The Official Site of Derrick Rose

Sun, Dec 7th 2008, 11:45

Chicago Bulls shouldn't hold back Derrick Rose

Some of you might recall that I preached patience when the Bulls chose Derrick Rose with the first pick in this year’s NBA draft. Don’t rush him, Rev. Rick wrote. Don’t give him more than he can handle. Let him develop at his own pace.

Well, forget all that. It’s clear that, as good as he has been so far, he’s capable of doing a lot more. Whether it’s his idea to be so unselfish or that of the Bulls, it’s an idea that needs adjusting.

I was reminded of this the other night when Rose drove to the basket and passed off to Tyrus Thomas for an outside shot in the waning moments of overtime against Philadelphia. Now, I can’t think of any scenario in which I would want Thomas shooting from beyond 5 feet. And yet there he was, hoisting up an 18-footer that had about as much chance of going in as it did of winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s wonderful Rose is so generous. It’s one of the things that makes him such a good point guard. Nobody wants to see him turn into the standard-issue, egocentric NBA star. Based on what we’ve seen so far from this unassuming kid, however, it’s hard to envision that happening.

He’s the best player on the team. He and the Bulls need to forget he’s a rookie. The other night he talked about being more assertive vocally with his teammates. It’s hard for him, he admitted. There’s a shyness to him that you don’t often see in stars. Speaking up doesn’t come naturally for him.

That part of the learning process will take time. Being more assertive with the basketball won’t. Rose already is one of the better point guards in the NBA, and the season isn’t a quarter old. When he wants to take the ball to the basket, he does. It’s as simple as that. It’s not supposed to be that simple.

If there’s a guard with more explosiveness than Rose, somebody fill me in. I haven’t seen him.

The Bulls are a better team when the ball is in the kid’s hands. They immediately become a lesser team when other people in Bulls uniforms start dribbling and shooting it. That should be the only thought in coach Vinny Del Negro’s mind.

If the concern is that the Bulls somehow are going to put too much pressure on a 20-year-old playing in his hometown, that concern should be dismissed immediately. He almost seems oblivious to the circumstances. Maybe that comes with having been a star since the age of 8. Maybe when you always have been the best, you don’t notice the expectations. Maybe Rose is so busy trying to prove himself that there isn’t room for pressure.

He seems to be hungry for new challenges. Fill his plate.

Continue reading at the Chicago Tribune….