It’s been 526 days since the former NBA MVP laced up and took to the basketball court. Now, after Derrick Rose put some numbers on the boards, we break down how the Windy City Assassin will curb all haters this coming season.
Derrick Rose played 20 minutes in his first game back with the Chicago Bulls, putting up 13 points (including a breakaway slam dunk) and 3 assists. After putting up his first bucket since tearing his left ACL in the 2012 playoff opener against Philadelphia, Rose gave fans a pre-season glimpse at his rejuvenated explosiveness, blurring speed against defenders and reminded the league just how lethal of a finisher he is.
Looking like the Rose of old throughout the time he was put in, Monday night’s (10/7) game against the Memphis Grizzlies won’t be much different than his initial game: Chicagoans will hold their breath, the opposition will challenge any perceived weaknesses and coach Tom Thibodeau will manage Rose’s minutes. “We’ll gradually build him up,” said the former NBA coach of the year. “But if he needs rest, we’ll get him out.”
Even if there was some rust evident during his play, Rose’s athleticism still places him atop the league’s most coveted point guards. And the fearlessness he showed in attacking the Indiana Pacers‘ big men proved that Rose doesn’t have much cobwebs to shake off before the regular season bout against the defending champs, the Miami Heat, on October 29.
With every stride, every shot and every twitch by Rose being ogled by a legion of fans, critics and sports analysts, we take a look at the 15 Reasons Why D. Rose Will Silence Naysayers—and be a welcomed sight for basketball fans everywhere.
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Rose’s Return Builds Upon Winning Habits
Without their leading floor general, the Chicago Bulls were able to shock and amaze everyone in the post season with their first round win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Proving that hope and consistent greatness can be intertwined, Derrick Rose’s healthy improvement on (and off) the court will give his teammates incentive to compete just as hard as their former MVP.
Rose Is The Anti-LeBron The League Deserves
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In a world where King James reigns supreme over all, Derrick Rose is the working man’s champion. After tearing his ACL and having to watch Akron’s own leapfrog into the winner’s circle, Rose has begun his ascent back atop the mountain.
With such a glowing reputation around the league and with his teammates, Rose, backed by a roster full of defensive stalwarts, is poised to be a royal pain in the neck for LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
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Rose’s Focus On Defense Has Intensified
Tonight’s game (10/7) versus the Memphis Grizzlies will find the former league MVP having to put the breaks on the quick-and-deadly shooter, Mike Conley. Not one to back down from the challenge, Chicago’s own already has a plan of action in place to hold his opponent down.
“I really have just got to watch his penetration, really stay in front of him, make him shoot if anything and try to contest all his shots,” Rose told The Chicago Tribune. Wash, rinse and repeat—and you may just find Rose returning to the first-team All-Defensive honors.
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He’s Still One Of The NBA’s Fastest Guards
“He plays at a pace that nobody can relate to at that speed, at that quickness… That’s the biggest strength of our team,” Bulls’ center Joakim Noah said to The Chicago Tribune. Proven to be the team’s “big joker” in the deck, Derrick Rose can still speed past defenders with his first step and easily get to the basket if opposition sleeps on him.
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Derrick Rose’s Anger Will Improve The Team’s Play
After making his debut this past Saturday (10/5) in the pre-season opener against the Indiana Pacers, Tom Thibodeau sat down his franchise captain with only 7:07 left in the third quarter. “He got mad at me,” Thibs said to reporters after the game. “That’s how I knew we were good.”
For the rest of the league, the news should come as a warning. An angry Derrick Rose is a deadly one. Mix in the agility and improved range of motion in his legs, and competitors will be waving the white flag when the Chicago Bulls come to your town.
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With Improved Strength Comes No-Holds-Barred Expectations
As one of Chicago’s own returns to the hardwood, Rose has a serious shot at dethroning the Miami Heat for a title. The addition of Mike Dunleavy, a perennial three-point threat, and the emergence of Jimmy Butler allows the team to go big and for Rose to speed through the seams.
The Bulls have regained the missing offensive knock-out punch they lacked last seasons, so there’s no reason to think that, with Rose back in the roster, the Bulls can’t return to the top of the standings.
Photo: ESPN
Rose’s Stat Sheet Will Speak Volumes
Even though in the pre-season opener Rose was taken out midway though the third quarter, he finished with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers—all in 20 minutes! Rust aside, as Rose puts more players on notice that he is indeed back, you can trust and believe that those numbers on the board will rise with more minutes added on the floor.
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Rose’s Vertical Leap Has Increased
No one is looking forward to seeing D. Rose compete in the slam dunk contest, but, he will be able to sky over the likes of Roy Hibbert and Dwight Howard. How, you ask? Well, according to the young gunner, all the training and workout to rehab his torn ACL has resulted in his vertical leap increasing by five inches, to 42. Can you say, “Sky high,” haters?!
Photo: ESPN
Rose Has October 29th Targeted On The Calendar
The Bulls vs. Heat rivalry is no secret. It continued on without Derrick Rose during the second round of last year’s NBA playoffs. But with the former’s captain back in playing form, you can bet your lunch money that he will be using these seven low-pressure pre-season games to get rid of any remaining rust before doing battle with LeBron and the Heat.
One thing’s for sure that Derrick Rose will be looking to make a statement when the 2013-2014 NBA season jumps off.
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Rose Is A More Balanced Player
The injury allowed Derrick to get his bearings around the idea of what it takes to be a champion. The time away from the limelight, the fans, and the court encouraged him to hone those skills he felt he lacked. And, much like the rest of the league has done, Rose has added skills that will help him achieve the goals he’s set for himself.
“I think I’m more balanced,” Rose said, a statement that should send whispers of dread throughout the rest of the Eastern conference.
Photo: ESPN
Rose Wants That Old Thing Back
The NBA’s youngest league MVP ever might not inherently say he wants his distinction back out loud. He might not even have a media campaign blaring the thought across Chicago airwaves. You can bet that the ferocious competitor wants, not only a championship banner of his own, but to be proclaimed the league’s most valuable player—and he’ll do all that it takes to earn that rep.
So, other players better beware!
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No Soreness Means He’s The NBA’s Biggest Pain
Rajon Rondo is out. Russell Westbrook is too.
Other perennial guards are too old, too unproven, or just flat out basura throughout the league. With Derrick Rose telling anyone within ear shot range that he “has no soreness in his knee,” this means that the Bulls’ bullet-blazing point guard will be a constant threat to everyone in the NBA.
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Rose Will Prove He’s A Great Leader
The team has reshuffled itself and managed to come away improved.
Having D. Rose back into the fold will allow him (and Tom Thibodeau) to manage the team’s expectations. As one of the most vocal point guards in the NBA, you can surely believe that Rose will aim to prove that he’s just as effective of a floor general as Chris Paul or LeBron James.
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He’s Not Just A Scoring Threat; He’s A Passer Too
Truly, the essence of what makes Derrick Rose great is both his ability to explode past big men for the easy two and the vision and awareness to hit his teammates with the pass. When defenses collapse on him, Rose is very gifted in getting the ball to an open Bulls player, which will surely have the league calling him a championship point guard before it’s all said and done.
Photo: ESPN
Rose Will Be Kryptonite To The Big Three
There’s no question that D. Rose, Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls have a championship mindset. But, if the former league MVP can muster up 20 points-per-game, 7 assists and be a huge defensive force during games—he’ll be the kryptonite needed to dethrone the Miami Heat.
With efficient scoring and passing comes rings, this much has been proven over the two-year reign by the South Beach champs. And judging by the initial improvement by D. Rose, it looks like it is “championship or bust,” which means we cannot wait for October 29th.
How do you think Derrick Rose will impact the league once the season begins? Let us know below!
