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Derrick Rose: Chicago Bulls PG Returning To Form?

By James D. Tillman III

Apr 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) passes the ball around Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) passes the ball around Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls will always remember the sequence below from Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs. It was the moment that ultimately changed the course of Rose’s career.

And ever since that fateful moment, Bulls fans have been wondering whether or not Rose is capable of reaching the same level that helped him become the youngest MVP in league history four years ago.

Initially, it appeared that the uncertainty of that question would linger on indefinitely. After missing the entire 2012-13 campaign, Rose returned to the court for the 2013-14 season, but it would be short-lived, as he tore the meniscus in his right knee in late November and would miss the remaining 72 games, forcing the Bulls to put their title aspirations on hold for the third consecutive year.

And at the start of the current season, the injury bug reared its ugly head again. In fact, Rose would miss eight of the team’s first 13 games and would go on to miss a total of 31 games, including a 20-game absence with a second meniscus tear prior to the start of the playoffs.

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Although Rose did play in 50 games this season, questions began to arise as to whether or not he was ready for the intensity of postseason play. After all, it had been three years since the last time Rose was on the court for a playoff game.

And with the number of injuries he has sustained over the past few years, one could only wonder if he was capable of leading this Bulls team on a deep playoff run.

Well, if we look at how he has played through the first three games of this first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the answer to that question is yes. In Game 1, Rose scored 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting and handed out seven assists in just 27 minutes of action.

To put his stats in their proper perspective, Rose was responsible for 42 of the team’s 103 points, as five of his assists resulted in three-point baskets. Not too shabby for a guy who was in and out of the lineup at various stretches during the season.

In Game 2, Rose didn’t play quite as well as he did in the series opener. This was especially true in the first half, as he shot 0-for-7 overall and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. However, Rose found his shooting touch in the second half, connecting on four of his seven attempts en route to a 15-point performance to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds.

But if you thought you had seen the best of Rose in these playoffs, you would be mistaken. And in Game 3, he reminded everyone just what he is capable of when he is at the top of his game.

In a game the Bulls needed to win in order to prevent the Bucks from gaining any hopes of making this a competitive series, the Bulls guard showed flashes of the player we saw a few years ago. How well did Rose play in this contest?

Well, he notched 34 points on 12-for-23 shooting from the field, including an impressive 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc. Rose rounded out his impressive outing with eight assists and five rebounds while playing 48 minutes–the most he has played in any game this season.

And true to his low-key demeanor, Rose offered the following assessment about his Game 3 performance, as reported by Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson:

"It’s playoff basketball. I’m still trying to catch a rhythm and just trying to push myself. Sometimes I still get winded. But I’m just playing, no expectations. I’m having fun. And I love competing."

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    • A few days ago, I wrote an article questioning whether or not Rose is still capable of getting to the rim with great frequency and taking over games down the stretch. But from what we have seen so far, he has proven a lot of doubters wrong, myself included.

    And with a highly-anticipated second-round matchup against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on the horizon, the question becomes, can Rose continue to play at this level consistently? If he does, then the Bulls will finally dethrone King James in a playoff series.

    If not, then it will mark the fourth time in six years that a James-led team will have eliminated the Bulls from the postseason.

    That being said, the Bulls and their fans are certainly hoping that Rose’s improved play is a sign of things to come.

    Next: Chicago Bulls: 5 Keys To Postseason Success

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