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Can Derrick Rose Recapture Star Form In 2016?

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Derrick Rose
Oct 30, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) talks to guard Derrick Rose (1) during overtime against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

The Butler Did It

The absence of Jimmy Butler has not been the sole reason behind Rose’s recent resurgence. After all, Butler has only been out for five and a half games and Rose was starting to show signs of this revival since the end of December.

But we shouldn’t be surprised to see Rose playing some of his best basketball of the season without Butler in the backcourt, and over his last five games (he missed one of the six played without Butler), D-Rose is averaging a stellar 23.2 points, 5.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 38.5 percent from downtown and 78.9 percent from the foul line.

For the reference, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game on .445/.332/.858 shooting splits during his MVP season. Five games is a microscopic sample size, and we should also note that Chicago is 1-4 in those five games, but what else is to be expected from a team missing its best player (not to mention Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic)?

In the game Butler went down, Rose was one of the few players trying to prevent Chicago’s late game collapse against the Denver Nuggets, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes.

Though the Bulls were mostly dominated in their first game back from the All-Star Break against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rose was once again one of the few bright sides for the team, putting up 28 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes. He went 11-for-19 from the floor and thrilled Bulls fans with the kind of nifty scoop shots in the lane we’ve become used to.

In Chicago’s most recent win against the Toronto Raptors, it was Doug McDermott‘s career high 30 points that led the Bulls, but D-Rose was right behind him with 26 points on 12-of-20 shooting to help Chicago overcome a 13-point deficit.

It’s a bit concerning that both Rose and Butler have played their best basketball of the season when the other one has sat, but the silver lining of Butler being out and the Bulls flirting with falling out of the playoff picture is that now Chicago can get a good hard look at what Rose is still capable of.

That doesn’t make up for the recent losses, but if you’re looking for the reason behind Rose suddenly looking so much better, you could say the Butler did it.

Next: The Future

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