No fear of limited triangle
Derrick Rose is confident he’ll easily pick up Jeff Hornacek’s reduced triangle. With only two more full practices before the season opener in Cleveland, Rose outlined how Phil Jackson’s system has been removed from New York’s open offense — and therefore less complicated to learn despite being absent for over two weeks.
“We’re running an up-tempo type of game. On out of bounds plays, that’s when we’re throwing in the triangle,” he said. “On just dead balls, so it’s very simple.”
Rose missed nine practices and five preseason games while in L.A. for his civil trial, achieving a favorable verdict Wednesday when the jury found him not liable on all charges — including rape. He went over the offense Friday with Jeff Hornacek, who left impressed.
“He did his homework,” the coach said.
During training camp, Rose called the triangle “a little complicated” because “there’s like 40 to 50 options on one side of the floor.” The point guard prefers the quick offense and pickand-roll game. It seems that’s what the Knicks will be running most of the time.
“He’s happy (the trial) is all over and behind him. He can focus on basketball,” Hornacek said. “That’s what he really wants to do right now. He’s focused on getting back and having a good year and kind of trying to get back to doing the things he used to do four or five years ago.”
KEEP ON CHASSON IT
A day after cutting point guard Chasson Randle, Hornacek said he hopes the injured point guard will stay with the organization’s D-League team for another chance at a call-up.
Randle was on the path to making the Knicks’ 15-man roster before fracturing his orbital bone in practice. He would’ve missed the opening month of the regular season, and the Knicks kept undrafted free agent Ron Baker instead. Randle can now field offers from other teams as a free agent. He can also join the Westchester Knicks with the knowledge Hornacek has a soft spot.
“We really liked what he did with us,” the coach said.
The Knicks also waived veteran power forward Lou Amundson — and his guaranteed contract — to keep center Marshall Plumlee.
“With Lou, it came down to a matter of how many bigs we have. We have a lot of bigs on the team,” Hornacek said. “So that was a tough one.”