Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon 2 solid options late in games

Денг Гордон · Feb 11, 2009

Ben Gordon supplied enough fourth-quarter heroics during the 2004-05 season that he became the only rookie in NBA history to win the league's Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Gordon reminded those who had forgotten about his flair for the dramatic Tuesday night when he converted a four-point play as the game-winning shot in the Bulls' pulsating, come-from-behind victory against the Pistons.

Gordon's shot, however, came after Derrick Rose again served as the first option, assisting on Gordon's game-winner only after Rasheed Wallace blocked his first attempt.

Rose and Gordon combined for 17 fourth-quarter points, so it's not like either option is a bad one. But coach Vinny Del Negro maintained that Rose will continue to get the call on last-second shots, even while trying to assert that the two guards' talents don't have to be mutually exclusive.

"I feel with Derrick's ability, the quicker he learns in those situations is good for us," Del Negro said. "We've lost some games, but we've gotten good shots. In Minnesota, [Rose] got a decent look. In Dallas, he got a really good look."

Rose missed both of those late attempts in one-point overtime losses. On the final possession of regulation in Minnesota, Del Negro called a play where Gordon flared and conceivably could have taken the last shot if Rose had not dribbled in the wrong direction and botched the play, leading to a forced shot that the rookie missed badly.

"Most of the sets are like that," Del Negro insisted. "Derrick penetrates, but the problem is defenses don't leave Ben because Ben can hit those shots. But he also stretches the defense to give Derrick more areas to penetrate. That's a huge positive.

"You watch the film and they lock up on Ben and make Derrick make plays. He has converted some and he has missed some. That's just part of the game. As he matures and understands things, he'll make more than he misses."

Gordon says the right things publicly. But as a competitor who is supremely confident in his offensive abilities, it's clear he would prefer to be the first option.

Rose is the kind of player who takes what the defense gives him, so if the play calls for a pass to Gordon, he will make it. He knows what plenty of opposing defenses do about Gordon.

"He's not going to miss the open shot," Rose said.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-12-bulls-chicagofeb12,0,624645.story

I don't like that we're just giving it to Rose, and declaring we're giving it to Rose, given how great Gordon is at the end of games. We should be mixing it up, running some plays, not just saying Derrick's going to have the last shot.

Say we converted in 3 of those games where Derrick blew it, and we'd be at .500. You play to win at the end of ball games. The end of a close ball game is not development time imo. Look at Roger Mason Jr. in San Antonio. He wasn't thrust into the clutch guy role. It just came to him. No need to force anything with Derrick either.

Denny Crane · Feb 12, 2009

"Most of the sets are like that," Del Negro insisted. "Derrick penetrates, but the problem is defenses don't leave Ben because Ben can hit those shots. But he also stretches the defense to give Derrick more areas to penetrate. That's a huge positive.

"You watch the film and they lock up on Ben and make Derrick make plays. He has converted some and he has missed some. That's just part of the game. As he matures and understands things, he'll make more than he misses."
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VDN states the obvious. It's true in the 1st minute of Q1 as it is the last minute of Q4.

bullshooter · Feb 12, 2009

Do we really need another thread on this? BG hasn't gotten it done since his rookie year. Can we please move on?

Денг Гордон · Feb 12, 2009

bullshooter said: ↑

Do we really need another thread on this? BG hasn't gotten it done since his rookie year. Can we please move on?
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Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon 2 solid options late in games

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Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon 2 solid options late in games

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