I was hoping Rose wouldn't have to go through the growing pains of learning how to win like this, but it looks like he has to. There are too many possessions where he makes the wrong decision and he just can't do that and get the bulls a win. I think he'll get it, but there aren't going to be any skipped steps, which I am finding excruciatingly painful right about now.
The worst part of this whole thing is they are making that pansy ass Chrissy Bosh look like a superstar.
He didn't have to play this Heat superteam. Lebron stays in Cleveland and the Bulls are in the Finals. Would be nice to add another top 10 NBA player to this mix.
Lebron James is a stud and a bad matchup for Rose. Hate to see him wilt down the stretch. He'll learn. Not over yet. Had every chance you could ask for in this one.
I don't think he had to ever play this Heat team once they have their shit together and are playing tremendous D.
Liked this post. Yep, it's not going to come all at once. Still time this year. He's got to see the openings, and the team has to work together. Very close.
Rose has been successful down the stretch all season long. Now I guess he has to learn to solve Lebron in ISO situations. Or we can get a legit 2nd shot maker and go to him when Rose is being guarded by one of the only people in the NBA that can give him trouble in an ISO situation. Or Thibs can draw up a play (not that the Bulls were executing that well on offense against the very tough Heat D). In the biggest play of the year the Bulls had the ball with a chance to win a huge game. And I don't think Thibs did anything different than Vinny Del Negro would have done.
Yeah, that's the killer. I have to believe there was a play there and that Rose just decided to go one on one. I can't believe Thibs expected Rose to break down LBJ and the heat one on five.
Here's the thing for me. The bulls played 44 minutes of Boozer and his matador defense and still held Miami to 85 points. On the road. This team is right there. They are only one step away...
The bulls have to be the worst pick and roll team I can remember. Almost all the time we run it. Almost all the time the guy guarding our big jumps out to double team Rose and this completely denies him opportunity to drive to the basket. They don't fear Noah going to the basket, especially if he gets the ball at the top of the key. And they certainly don't fear him shooting from outside. To make things worse, on the rare opportunity for Rose to drive to the basket with only one guy guarding him, our bigs should clear to the other side or away from the basket, but they bring their main to double Rose instead. I saw this a few times last night with Rose guarded by Bibby, Rose near the left or right sideline (not top of the key).
Boozer played 49 minutes, and was +9 for the night. He had a better game than Bosh did. Take away his 20 point contribution and put in the -21 Taj Gibson (0 points), and we lose 85-65.
Exactly. The Heat are completely overplaying Rose and the coach can't figure out how to use this to our advantage and his teammates are missing tons of open shots or mostly unable to finish the roll to the basket. But it's all on Rose.
Yeah, I mean, if anyone tells me to my face that we need to trade away Rose for a "real superstar" -- I'll forget for a moment that I'm supposed to forgive such lunacy and I'll punch some sense into him (Saw this on RealGM -- never going back there -- yeesh). Still, in a way, it is on Rose. It has been. Our defense is playing the way it should. Derrick is our star, the guy who controls the ball and makes the decisions. He's flustered and unsure of what to do. But there is a way for him and the team to succeed. So, I'm not blaming him. And yes, the teammates need to step up. Coach needs to help him work through it. But there's no doubt that as this team is constructed, Derrick Rose is the one who has to figure out the way to break down this defense and help this team win. I'm not saying he has to score every point, blah blah blah. But it starts from him on the court. It will certainly require that he in some sense does less, so that his teammates can do more. But it starts with him. And i for one as a fan will live with whatever awkwardness and stumbles there might be for him to get there. Yes, we have other needs to be filled, but this is about his development as a player, more than anything. And again, I'm not betting against him figuring it out even by tomorrow night. Go Bulls!
