Derrick Rose

Recent Q & A

Question:

What was it like being part of the Team USA camp in Vegas?

Answer:

It was great. It was an honor to be invited, and I hope I made a good impression. Just to be there and play with so many great players was a good learning experience and a lot of fun for me. I can't wait for future opportunities with Team USA!

Question:

Are you there all the time and on all the 4 days of the camp?

Answer:

Yes! I'll be there throughout the camp meeting everyone and teaching all the campers.

Question:

What are you most looking forward to about all-star weekend?

Answer:

Just being with the fans. Being with my family. And just having fun, that's what the whole experience is about. Just having fun down there and learning some leadership skills while I'm down there with those great players.

Question:

How does it feel to be an all-star?

Answer:

I really can't describe it right now. It really hasn't hit me. Hopefully, when I get down to Dallas that's when it will really hit me, I know. I really didn't know there wasn't an All-Star for the Bulls since Mike in '98 or something like that, so just thinking about that it's amazing.

Question:

at the moment, are you a bigger Memphis fan or Kentucky fan?

Answer:

Memphis. I'll always be a Memphis fan. But my coach [John Calipari] is in Kentucky, so I'm their fan too, but I'm definitely a Memphis fan.

Bucks 4 Buckets

Power Balance - Bucks for Buckets

Updates

Wed, Apr 14th 2010, 09:49

Derrick's career high leaves Bulls with magic number of 1

This wasn’t Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich Tuesday who combined for 69 points, including 27 of the team’s 34 in the fourth quarter, to beat the Boston Celtics 101-93 before a raucous, playoff like crowd at the United Center.
No, it was more like Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. Like Gail Goodrich and Jerry West. Like Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. Like Bob Cousy and Sam Jones.

This was a backcourt duo for the ages as the Bulls now will make the playoffs if they defeat Charlotte Wednesday or if the Toronto Raptors lose to the Knicks.

“We’re just having trust and confidence in one another and we’ve been playing good basketball,” said Rose, who scored a career high 39 points and drove All Star and top defender Rajon Rondo from the game late. “It was one of those days. Some days it’s a whole bunch of turnovers. It was one of those days I hit almost everything. It’s my teammates who give me the confidence. I love playing here and being in tough situations, which makes me go out and perform. Kirk was huge knocking down shots, stepping up and making big plays. He’s one of our leaders. Everyone, the younger guys, look up to him.”

And the Bulls are a game from not having to look up at the eight playoff teams. Their destiny, as it were, is in their hands again after a second playoff style effort in which they outworked a Boston team playing its regulars with Paul Pierce with 28 points and Ray Allen with 25.

The Celtics now fall to fourth in the Eastern Conference and are likely to open the playoffs against the hot Miami Heat and potentially face Cleveland in the second round. The Celtics were hoping to avoid both, so it was no late season, Cavs like team.

But the Bulls dominated the boards 49-40 with Joakim Noah with nine points, 16 rebounds and three blocks (Rose was all over the place and also had three blocks) and Luol Deng with seven points and 12 rebounds. The Bulls committed just eight turnovers and shot 56.4 percent after halftime with Hinrich and Rose combining to shoot 26 for 42 overall.