Tom Thibodeau opts Knicks veterans in Game 3 roster

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Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, longtime trusted lieutenants to Tom Thibodeau with three NBA franchises, joined the Knicks’ starting lineup on Friday night for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series in Atlanta.

After the veteran duo started the second half and helped bring the Knicks back from a 13-point halftime deficit two nights earlier in their victory in Game 2 that tied the series, Thibodeau has moved all in and eventually put Elfrid Payton on the bench, who for several weeks was his starting point of custody in name only.

Payton had started each of the previous 65 games he appeared in this season, including the first two games of this series, but “starter” was never a dumber designation after playing just eight minutes and five minutes, respectively. , in Games 1 and 2. Payton was benched for the final 43 minutes of the Knicks’ comeback victory in Game 2 at the Garden, with Rose recording a whopping 39 minutes.

New York Knicks' Derrick Rose # 4 passes the ball
Derrick Rose was part of the Knicks’ starting lineup for Game 3.
Getty Images

Barely an hour before the roster changes were revealed just before Friday’s announcement at State Farm Arena, Thibodeau played with the media, saying he was “still undecided” and still thinking ” based on “what gives us our best chances.” to win.”

Either way, Thibodeau thought he would lean heavily on Rose again after the 32-year-old former NBA MVP scored 26 points, the team’s top, including two keys to 3 points in the rally in the second half, in Game 2. Rose’s performance was paramount. , leading scorer Julius Randle struggling for the second game in a row to score 13 of his 15 points after halftime.

“Derrick gives you an extra dimension, but you also have to look at how things fit together and what it does,” Thibodeau said ahead of Rose’s first playoff start since Game 6 of the 2015 second round for the Bulls. against the Cavaliers. “I thought Julius wasn’t called in the second half so we need everyone, and the game tells you what to do.

“When Derrick is trapped he comes out of the ball quickly and we can play from the back. So whenever a team overloads a particular player, that player has the responsibility to get the ball out quickly and move it. And we can get some great shots. I think Derrick is experienced, and most players go through that. Just read the game. The game will tell you what to do. And then we have to surround Julius with the shoot. This also takes this into account. “

Gibson, raised in Brooklyn, has been splitting his time with starter Nerlens Noel at center since Mitchell Robinson underwent foot surgery in March in his fourth game after also running out of time after hand surgery. Gibson and Rose also played for Thibodeau earlier in their careers with the Bulls and Timberwolves.

Noel was hampered by an ankle injury in the series opener, and he finished with two runs, five rebounds and zero blocked shots in 17 minutes in Game 2.

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