A year ago this time I was a nervous wreck trying to write my very first piece on the emergence of Chris Paul. A year later, the play of the Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is giving me déjà vu. With a first year campaign that proved him worthy of the Rookie of the Year Award, Rose is shaking up the playoff picture.
By the end of the regular season, many fans were not sold on this young kid’s game. Sure his 16 ppg and 6 assists looked pretty on paper, but was he ready to lead his seventh seeded Bulls against the defending champion Celtics in round one? Fifty three minutes after the start of his first playoff game, there was no denying his abilities. He tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for points in a playoff debut with 36. Add eleven assist to that number and you have a point guard who is wise beyond his years. No one could stop Rose as he slashed to the basket with ease. He even helped me win over a few hearts in my “Rondo is Garbage” campaign the way he embarrassed him that Saturday afternoon.
All of his teammates shout his praises. Guard Ben Gordon went as far as to say that he plays like a veteran. I most certainly agree. It’s difficult to believe that a year ago Derrick Rose was playing for a National Championship with the Memphis Tigers. At Memphis things were a lot easier. He was on a college team that was stacked with talent, being defended by guys who may not get picked in a playground game. Now he is in a position where the entire Bulls organization is depending on him to navigate them back to NBA supremacy. The legend of Michael Jordan stares him dead in the eye every time he enters the building. What better player to take the challenge than the Chicago native. The Jordan-esque demands do not phase this budding star. He never shows a bit of nervousness. Rose plays with a sense of confidence that many veterans do not posses as throughout their career. (Eddie House looks like he’s wishing the ball in the basket every time) He plays floor general without making the slightest facial expressions, remaining calm no matter how tight the game is.
Perhaps it is growing up as a Bulls fan that make him so anxious to get the team back to its glory days win Jordan was “pushing off” Byron Russel for Championships. In a Sports Illustrated article he was quoted saying, “I want the pressure on me. I would be more worried if it wasn't there." A statement like that should have guards around the league on their toes. Come clutch time, we all know who is going to have the ball in their hands.
A sign that he is a great point guard in the works is the fact that he keeps every one happy. As a point guard, you have four other guys on the court who feel as though they are open every offensive possession. Last season was a soap opera for the Bulls. Ben Gordon wasn’t sure if he wanted to be back. In reference to a big loss late last season Kirk Heinrich said, “We weren’t really ready to play.” Heck, Joaqim Noah got benched by his own teammates! One season later, Derrick Rose makes this squad look more content than elderly people at a time share. He dishes to Gordon for any open shot he pleases, Heinrich gives %110 every night on the defensive end and Noah has settled down and understands that he is no longer the go to man that he was with the University of Florida.
Currently the Celtics are leading the series 3-2, with a Thursday night game scheduled in the Windy City. The pressure is on Derrick Rose to will his team to victory in the next two games in order to advance to the next round. As I prepare to watch this “back against the wall” scenario unfold, I can’t help but to think about the 1980 NBA Finals in which Magic Johnson lead the Lakers to a championship in his rookie year. Can Derrick Rose have a story book season as thrilling as Magic’s? Upsetting the defending champs in the first round would be a start. Only time will tell if Rose is ready to rise to the occasion.
