How Far Can Derrick Rose Carry Chicago Bulls?

After Michael Jordan was done playing for the Chicago Bulls, the city was in waiting for its next basketball savior to come and continue the tradition of winning.

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When Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP winner back in 2011, many thought that he was that guy that was going to lead the Bulls back to the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, as Rose has struggled to actually stay on the floor and evolve his game.

Rose hasn’t stayed consistently on the floor without injury since the 2011-12 regular season. That year in the postseason was when he suffered his first tear in his knee, and he hasn’t been the same player since.

Sure, Rose has still found ways to be effective, as he hasn’t completely lost all of his explosiveness and speed, but he’s certainly not the same as when he won the MVP award.

When Rose was at his best, he could explode to the rim without hesitation and make dazzling plays around the basket, from posterizing his opponent to crazy finishes in mid-air. Rose was the complete package in terms of finishing inside, much like Russell Westbrook is right now for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Eastern Conference didn’t have any other guards that was nearly as athletic as Rose at the time, and the only player who could really keep up with him in terms of athleticism was LeBron James.

It seemed that there was a change in the wind, that James’ time as the most dominant force in basketball was potentially coming to a close as long as Rose could continue to develop his jump shot and defensive skills.

It’s now four years later, and if anything Rose has regressed. His jump shot still isn’t what it should be, and even though he’s said that he’s spent a lot of time during rehabilitation working on it, it’s not the same as getting reps in-game and consistently during scrimmages in practice.

Being able to hit shots with no one else around you is one thing, but making those shots over defenders is a whole different story.

Earlier this month, Rose made his comeback from a third bout with injury, as he and the Bulls are looking towards the postseason. The question is how far can Rose actually lead this team?

Rose is the leader for the Bulls, after all. Even if he’s not the oldest player on the team or he’s not healthy all of the time, he’s still the most talented offensive threat the team has when he’s at full strength. He’s the player that drives the team and makes the offense go.

Rose’s penetration is key to setting up players for easier shots than they would get without it. For a team that hasn’t have a wide array of shooters to just spread around the floor like the Atlanta Hawks or San Antonio Spurs, Rose makes up for that with his ability to break down and collapse the defense to him inside.

When the defense turns their attention towards Rose, it gives shooters on the outside open looks, which is important because the Bulls don’t have players that are going to hit contested jumpers on a whim.

Not only is Rose important in the halfcourt, but at full speed he’s nearly unstoppable in transition. He’s no rookie in terms of running the fast break, and he can either finish plays on his own or get it ahead to a cutting teammate if there’s someone that can keep up with him on that particular drive.

However, none of this matters if Rose can’t actually stay on the floor.

Has Rose really turned the corner on his health? Can he stay active in the playoffs and actually play without a minutes restriction?

If the Bulls are really looking to win a title, they can’t keep Rose on restricted minutes for much longer. Yes, that’s one thing in the regular season, even when the season is winding down and the team can afford to rest their guys, but every game counts past that point.

Every game matters in the playoffs.

If Rose is healthy, then the sky is the limit for this Bulls team. They have the defensive tenacity and depth of a true contender, and Rose can act as the star scorer the team needs when they need a bucket down the stretch.

Without Rose, this team is in a lot of trouble if they expect to beat a more well-rounded team like the Hawks or the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For a sport that shouldn’t depend so much on just one player, the Bulls’ success is tied to what Rose can give them. They need him at his best, or else they’ll be sitting at home watching the championship round.

Next: Rose's Return Improves Playoff Odds For Bulls

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