I voted 'let Rose be Rose' and I'll attempt to explain why once again:
Only 27 years old. Now has the man had quite a few injuries? You bet (and that's how we were able to get him so cheap btw). Do I think his career's over though? Hell no. How can anyone definitively say that?!? I don't believe that--I think he's got a lot of game left in fact just like I would think about any other 27-year-old player. Just needs to get healthy and stay healthy. Who knows, that might be a tough proposition but I wouldn't go into this saying it's impossible. Look at a guy like Mark Teixeria for the Yankees -- injury after injury where the guy finally is pulling the plug and calling it quits. Difference is he's played a full career basically--Tex is 36 years old. Rose is 27--big difference.
All I can go on is what I see and last year I saw a player that made significant strides toward regaining top form by about mid-March or so where he looked much better. Now he's had a full offseason to continue recuperating/mending PLUS he's coming to a new city where excitement will be sky high. That should push him, re-energize him, galvanize him...The team too. How can any Knick fan not want to see that?? And how on Earth does Rose hinder KP's development as a playmaker? Anyone get that?? Is that what we want to see anyway, KP as a playmaker?? Or do we want him set up properly for scoring opportunities and crashing the offensive glass for putback dunks?? I know that's what I wanna see from the big fella and Rose can only help him there. Jose Calderon certainly wasn't penetrating deep into the teeth of the defense getting KP open looks like Rose should be able to do AT WILL, that's for sure.. And deprive Melo and Noah of shot opportunities?? Huh? I don't understand that either. First off, Rose is the best thing that's happened to all 3 of these guys, Noah would be the first one to stand up and profess this having already played with Rose for years (plus Noah's not a guy who needs to get shots up anyway -- he's your frontcourt playmaker looking for guys cutting etc., not KP). Let Rose attack and get KP good open looks, either in the post/mid range/P&R or pick and pop or out high on kick outs. He'll get Melo opportunities in his office as well. We don't need Melo taking 20+ shots a game anymore, pounding the ball in ISO situations which, ironically, I didn't think anyone wanted to see anymore anyway.
I'm not ready to close the book on D. Rose yet. Bottom line is we have 1 year before being faced with a big decision of whether or not to resign him. In order to make the most informed decision possible I think the Knicks need to see him perform at a high level with no restrictions. I mean WTF--if there are restrictions imposed, how are we gonna be able to determine if he's really worth keeping or not?? I think they need to let him go and let him do his thing. Let him attack and make plays, both for himself and others. The man's a game-changer for us, bottom line. Above all else, he's the one guy who will lead to more wins with a real chance to change this whole thing around in a hurry -- again, if we let him be him. I don't want to see one game wasted with him. Now if he's not healthy at any point or if he can't handle it, then of course it's a completely different conversation and you make the necessary adjustments but no way do I think we go in with the idea of suppressing his aggressiveness in any way. Now no one's advocating running him into the ground either. I certainly am not (Jennings is here remember and he should get plenty of PT thus sparing Rose some wear and tear along the way--I'd hope that's the plan) OR wanting to see him play selfish and reckless out there. Not saying that at all...But when the man is out there, let him be him, mistakes and all. Only way we can truly find out if he's worth keeping or not and if he's really the game-changer I think he could be. Again, like I mentioned on the other thread discussing this same subject -- the last thing I wanna see is the Knicks playing this overly cautious with Rose for 20 games, 30 games or whatever by going out of their way to tell Rose not to play his game, only to then realize they should've cut him loose all along. Season could be over by then. Rose is too special a player to suppress like that. You cut his minutes down somewhat if you want to help keep him fresh and healthy, not suppress his game while he's on the court. Two completely different things entirely...Wind him up and let him go--we'll get our answer either way.