Derrick Rose clapped his hands, almost rhythmically, as the Madison Square Garden faithful stood in approval, roaring and exhaling at once, finally able to bathe in their basketball cathedral.
As long as it’s been for the New York Knicks, it’s almost seemed like a longer wait for Rose to return to this stage and to have a moment that he can appreciate after so many winds, so many turns and so many questions.
The Knicks tying their first-round playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks was spurred on by Rose and Taj Gibson starting the second half, with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau leaning on his old horses to get his team through more quarters of playoff nerves.