Knicks: Attacking the Rim

One of the things I haven't seen mentioned in the Knicks acquisition of Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings and Mindaugus Kuzminskas - whom we will call Kuz or Daug - is that all like to attack the rim.  Putting aside Daug for a moment, both Rose and Jennings are titularly point guards, but of the attack the rim type - not the pick and roll, orchestrator type, who maybe attacks back door or in transition.  And here's why this is both interesting and a big change for Phil Jackson teams, and thus, the Triangle.  In the past, Phil has attacked the rim with legendary 2's named Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, while more traditional point guards like Paxson, Armstrong, and Fisher, sort of dished, shot threes and played various levels of D.

Jackson himself has said he uses lead guards and off guards instead of point guards and shooting guards.  But his "lead" guards in the past have been 2's and this time he's using his 1's. So instead of trying to envision Rose and Jennings in a sort of more athletic version of the Derek Fisher role, they should be considered as having the ball dominant Jordan/Bryant roles. While Courtney Lee will be the 3 and D guy, and I wonder if he'll play some pick and roll.

By the way, if Chasson Randle makes the team, he's another guy who loves to attack the rim and can score in all sorts of ways.

As for Daug, he's going to be a long three and D guy, who is great in transition, and possessed of the handles, feet and physicality to attack the rim, too.  I think he'll surprise.

Interesting stuff