>and that's Kirk...at least on D. Dude does some really DUMB
>stuff.

True....


>But back to D-Rose...I really feel like missing 2 seasons (and
>a post season) really hindered him in one very particular
>way...development. And he's trying to make up for 2 yrs off
>by getting it all in THIS season. The insistence on shooting
>the threes 5-7 times a game, the vet coasting and energy
>conservation, the turn up in the 4th or at the outset but not
>the entire game.

To tell u the truth I expected even more sluggish play from Rose after two years of being away from the NBA...What I didn't expect however is bad decision making....That's more troubling than dude not having the full Derrick Rose form back after being away....


>If he had been on the court the last 2 years, his 3 would
>probably be serviceable instead of forced, he'd have a much
>better gauge on when to use it and would understand that
>excessive use without being in rhythm/on hinders the O
>(especially when you're the primary ball handler).
>
>His handle/drives are waaaay more turnover prone than they use
>to be which says he's not use to NBA traffic anymore AND that
>the league plays driving lanes a little better so you have to
>know how to maneuver them. He'd be more comfortable with these
>without the missed time.
>
>And he RARELY makes an away from the ball play. If Jimmy or
>Kirk or Aaron has the ball, he'll fade somewhere at the top of
>the court or on the baselines and just sit there. He rarely
>cuts, crashes or sets an off ball screen. He should be
>involved in every play in some way.
>
>And on D, some games he'll fight through picks, chest up on
>his defenders and play good position D. On these games his
>rotations on team D are better too. Other games he'll funnel
>his guy to the middle and expect the bigs to challenge but he
>doesn't rotate well enough to stop a break down in D and it
>usually results in a score either from the attacking player or
>a pass to the big our guys had to rotate off of or an open 3
>because of the rotation to cover but Derrick doesn't adjust
>the D TO recover. I think this is where we miss Dunny most
>too because his length and IQ covered half of this up.
>
>I feel like he's just trying to make it through the year
>healthy and to the playoffs. Like he doesn't want ANY injury
>(jammed thumb, tweaked ankle, general soreness lol) so he
>avoids a lot of contact. Which I get, but it's still
>frustrating to watch.
>
>Next year I think he'll be much more comfortable and patient
>with his game.


>Here's to hoping my prediction about post-allstar break coming
>to fruition. But given the effort against Houston after
>having like 4 days off (hadn't played since Friday), I'm not
>so sure anymore.

Don't think that's going to happen....This is not a simple on-and-off switch...

Also I think we need to stop throwing around that "effort" word to explain why the Bulls r on a slide....It gives us comfort as Bulls fans. But i don't think that's what's happening here...

Pau, who has been great for us on offense and rebounding, is soul crushing on defense....Rose and Jimmy at times struggle to play with synergy...Our bench defense outside of Taj is dreadful. And we are depending on a player (Rose) to get back to vintage MVP form to lead us the Promise Land after two years off the court, which is silly in itself...

Nah...this isn't simply an effort thing...