Derrick Rose admits still getting used to Knicks' triangle offense

The New York Knicks have been running the triangle offense more often since the All-Star break.

So has Derrick Rose grown more comfortable with team president Phil Jackson's preferred offense recently?

"S---, do I have a choice? Do I have a choice?" Rose said to reporters in Philadelphia after the Knicks held a workout there Thursday. "I just want to win games. Winning takes care of every category for an athlete."

Rose, a free agent this summer, said recently that the offense was difficult to learn. He used the term "random basketball" when describing the offense.

It's unclear if Rose's thoughts on the triangle will impact his chances of re-signing with the Knicks, though coach Jeff Hornacek said earlier this week that players will be evaluated at the end of the season based, in part, on how they adapt to the triangle.

Earlier this season, Hornacek de-emphasized the triangle, saying at one point that the club was running it "much less" than 50 percent of the time. Hornacek said late last week, though, that the club has been running the triangle more often in games after the All-Star break. He added that Jackson was not behind the decision, but later acknowledged that he and Jackson have discussed the merits of the offense "all the time."

Rose reiterated Thursday that he's still getting used to running the triangle, adding that he takes a cautious approach to the offense.

"I still don't have the feeling yet of the entire offense, but I pick and choose while I'm out there," he said. "You think, 'Don't F up the game.' That's a great way to put it. Just don't mess up the game, and looking at a lot of film, you learn. That's what great players do. I believe that I'm great. Great players find a way no matter what situation they're put in."

Triangle issues aside, Rose has remained relatively healthy this season after struggling through injuries for much of the past five years. He has been effective at getting to the basket, averaging 17.6 points, 4.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds.

The Knicks, though, have underperformed on both ends of the floor for much of the season. Entering play Thursday, New York was 25-36, four games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

ESPN's Ian Begley contributed to this report.