Anthony, Rose, Noah Lead Knicks Past Bulls, 104-89

The poor effort helped the Knicks pull ahead with a 76-65 lead going into the fourth quarter.

And the sight of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose in Knicks’ uniforms is still a bit odd, never mind Rajon Rondo in a reserve role.

Though he didn’t so much as text the organization to say he wasn’t showing up for Monday’s game against New Orleans to be with his family in Chicago, Rose said he believes his teammates have accepted his apologies. As it stands today, the troubled point guard is just piling on to the already dismal season that the Knicks’ now find themselves in the midst of. But as has become ritual for the Knicks, nothing comes easy except losing. Anthony came over to screen for Rose, who drove baseline before drawing the defense and passing out to Brandon Jennings at the top of the key.

The NBA has six games on the schedule for Thursday, Jan. 12.

The Knicks have been publicly supportive of Rose in the wake of Monday’s incident. A major snowstorm in the city Tuesday night sent the team from Los Angeles to Seattle then finally to Portland. Rose tossed in eight points in the quarter. But it seemed as if Anthony would carry them when they needed it most. Rose said he “felt good”, and that he only missed one day, and one game. The Knicks expanded their three-point halftime lead in the third frame, outscoring the visiting Bulls 22-14.

The actual amount of the fine is $193,848, which is 1/110th of his $21.3 million wage, matching the code used by the National Basketball Association when it suspends a player for one game. “We got the monkey off our back, but we have to continue to play hard and give the effort like we have to win”. “I found him easy to coach, coachable”.

Rose delivered with 1:24 left and the Knicks rapidly crumbling. I’ve been around him for a long time and I’m proud of him. But Rose drove and flipped in a reverse layup with 34.5 remaining for a three-point advantage. Had he hit the rim things could have gone the Knicks way, but it was their failure to put the game away earlier in the quarter that led to their demise. “That takes a lot out of everything”.

The loss had the Knicks feeling blue and star Carmelo Anthony said he and his teammates need to get their acts together to avoid completely falling apart. When the game concluded, which turned out to be another debilitating Knicks’ loss, falling 110-96 and tumbling deeper into a hole, the media was thirsting for information.