Derrick Rose gets along with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek the way Rajon Rondo gets along with — well, just name any coach he’s had. That’s the rumor anyway, that Rose and Hornacek are on the same page, especially when Rose sits the whole fourth quarter. But people who know the way Phil Jackson operates saw this coming a mile away. Rose was always going to be kept on his fragile toes in New York. That’s why Jackson went out and got Brandon Jennings as a “backup” for Rose. Jennings is a career starter and he’s not exactly over the hill at 27 years old.
That way when Derrick Rose goes AWOL, as he did this week, the Knicks are ready with a guy who can really play. AWOL is an extreme situation, but Rose is hardly the picture of consistency. Brandon Jennings as the starter has been contemplated early and often:
NBA: $5M Brandon Jennings Too Smart To Say He’ll Start Games for Knicks
NBA: Derrick Rose’s Next Battle Is With Brandon Jennings
NBA: Knicks’ Brandon Jennings Gets More Minutes Than Derrick Rose
