Chicago Bulls: What To Make Of Derrick Rose’s Preseason Debut
Derrick Rose‘s return. It’s been hyped for more than a year. It’s produced more than one goose bump-inducing commercial. And it’s undoubtedly one of the five biggest NBA headlines entering the 2013-14 season. People have been eagerly awaiting D-Rose’s return all summer and critics have been complaining about his decision to forego the playoffs just as long. Now he gets the chance to prove the doubters wrong and the believers right. Everyone who said they’ll believe Derrick Rose is ready when they see him on the court again should probably start believing, especially since he’s already played in his first two preseason games. But now that we’ve seen him in action for a little bit, what can we expect during the regular season?
If you got a chance to see Rose play against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday or the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, you already have an idea about this answer. But in case preseason NBA basketball isn’t at the top of your priority list, here’s the opinion of someone who watched every second Rose was on the floor: If he stays healthy, you can expect the same spectacular Derrick Rose for the 2013-14 season.
Against the Pacers, who join the Chicago Bulls as the biggest threat to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, Rose looked like his old self and held nothing back. He was attacking bigger defenders at the rim with the same ferocity as always, he showed the same bursts of speed that he’s known for and he looked as athletic as ever all around. He didn’t seem intimidated or afraid of contact. That’s not to say he wasn’t rusty; after all, he finished with four turnovers in 20 minutes of playing time. But even in limited minutes in a preseason game, anytime you drop 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, three assists and two steals against a defensive nightmare like the Pacers, that’s a good start.
It wasn’t a spectacular performance, but it was impressive considering it’s been a year and a half since his last NBA game. Not to mention he was playing a team that made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, with so much hype and criticism surrounding his return. According to ESPN, Rose also said he didn’t feel sore after the game, which is fantastic news for Bulls fans.
In his second preseason outing, Rose once again tallied 13 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 23 minutes. He shot 3-for-8 from the floor, made his only 3-point attempt and committed just one turnover. So for those of you keeping track, Rose is averaging 13 points, three assists and 2.5 steals on 40 percent shooting in 21.5 minutes per game so far. Obviously Chicago fans will want to see his shooting numbers go up as the season progresses, but that’s not bad for a guy who hasn’t played for such a long period of time. Now take a look at those numbers converted to per 36 minutes statistics compared to his MVP season, during which he played 37 minutes per game:
Preseason Per 36 Minutes: 21.8 points, 5.0 assists, 4.2 steals, 40 FG%
2010-11 season: 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.5 FG%
So, no surprise, Derrick Rose isn’t playing at an MVP level just yet. And maybe the 4.2 steals per game is a tad unrealistic to sustain in an actual game playing 36 minutes a night, but still. Chicago would absolutely take something similar to those numbers in Rose’s first season back. And if his shooting is more efficient than it’s been thus far, those type of numbers would easily be good enough to elevate the Bulls to “contender” status once again, especially with an improved Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler joining the Rose-Luol Deng–Carlos Boozer–Joakim Noah nucleus.
But the optimism shouldn’t stop there, since a hidden gem in these two appearances has been Rose’s defense thus far. The 2.5 steals per game are obvious, but Rose’s on-the-ball defense has been equally stellar, though not as readily apparent. In the first game, Rose held George Hill to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting in Hill’s 28 minutes. In the second game, Mike Conley could only manage eight points on 2-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes. Part of that has to do with limited minutes and part of it can be attributed to offseason rust on the part of Conley and Hill, who aren’t exactly outstanding offensive talents to begin with. But Rose’s defensive ability has always been overlooked.
Rose, like a lot of talented offensive players in the league, can be prone to slacking off on defense at times. But when a defensive mastermind like Tom Thibodeau starts saying that Derrick Rose has the ability to be an elite NBA defender, it’s pretty safe to say he very well could be. Rose’s on-the-ball defense and pressure so far have been solid to say the least. The steals are a representation of Rose’s quickness, high basketball IQ, anticipation and his ability to read the offense. Throw in his athleticism and the focus Rose had on improving his defense during his offseason rehabilitation and you’ve got a player who can not only score on the offensive end, but limit his opponent on the other end as well.
Are two preseason games enough to base an entire season off of? No. But should Chicago Bulls fans be as excited as the doubters are worried about being proven wrong? Absolutely. Rose has looked solid in his first two outings and although his real debut won’t come until Oct. 29, when the Chicago Bulls face off with the defending champions in a brutal road opener, it’s so far, so good for the former MVP.
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