It wasn't long ago that fans had written off Derrick Rose, but now he’s the most important player for the New York Knicks in a playoff series. That type of career renaissance deserves recognition. If it wasn’t for Rose, Knicks fans wouldn’t have seen a postseason win for the first time since 2013, as Rose’s reunion with head coach Tom Thibodeau continues to work out beautifully. The Knicks needed every one of the 38-plus minutes that D-Rose played in Game 2 against the Hawks, especially given Julius Randle’s struggles. Rose was the only player out there who could create for the team, and in getting the win he further added to what is a fascinating chapter of his career. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow SI on all social channels! Twitter: https://buff.ly/2Pf9t9e Facebook: https://buff.ly/3l3ziFu Instagram: https://buff.ly/3oZia6i TikTok: https://buff.ly/3wGhuFc Subscribe to SI today for access to the biggest teams, the boldest names, and the legendary stories that only we can deliver: https://buff.ly/34iPNWS