PG:I See You Derrick

[Ben]

This place, as always, can pull the negative out of any positive result. Bravo to the team, now let's beat ATL.

And this place, as always, can generate sweeping pronouncements such as this when actually there has been an exchange between those who are overreacting to a player's good game or two and those who are calling for some realism. No one's unhappy that we beat Boston. That's great. But we've been playing like crap, and some fans like to talk about the team's long-term needs as well as simply to say "rah rah" one game at a time. There's always been room for both kinds of conversations, as you know from being a 12 year veteran of this board.

[DaBulls82]

This place, as always, can pull the negative out of any positive result. Bravo to the team, now let's beat ATL.

And this place, as always, can generate sweeping pronouncements such as this when actually there has been an exchange between those who are overreacting to a player's good game or two and those who are calling for some realism. No one's unhappy that we beat Boston. That's great. But we've been playing like crap, and some fans like to talk about the team's long-term needs as well as simply to say "rah rah" one game at a time. There's always been room for both kinds of conversations, as you know from being a 12 year veteran.

My comment came after your exchange but wasn't directed at you. No need to be so defense. My statement was about this board as a whole this season. And as a 12 year veteran, I've seen worse teams with better conversation. Carry on though and so shall I.

[NecessaryEvil]

The defense is still terrible. Gasol is the main issue. I do not think it's a fixable issue. He simply is a terrible defender. If we continue to play him big minutes, we will have to outscore opponents because we sure aren't going to be able to stop them.

It just may not be possible like it was, which is not to say the defense cannot improve. But without getting too technical, one formula for winning is scoring more points than the opponent (success shares). Many of the great teams in NBA history were not the best defensive teams at the time like the Bulls of the 90’s. Moses Malone’s great 1983 76ers were seventh in points allowed, Larry Bird’s 1984 Celtics were fifth. None of the 2000-2002 Lakers teams was top five in points allowed and the 2001 champions were 23rd and 10th in shooting defense. You don’t have to be the best defensive team in the playoffs, either. You just have to be good. And score a lot. The Bulls can do that. It’s their brave new world, as Thibodeau suggests. Their reality?

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-get ... eat-boston

I'm starting to believe Thibs may be changing his philosophy on the game, or rather, being forced to. Before this season, you could literally see steam emitting from the guy during post games with a bad defensive effort. Now, he's like oh ****** well, we won?? Either way, I like the high scoring version of the Bulls. Appreciate the defensive/rebounding version of 10-13 but I believe it just got tiresome, especially to muster for a full season and playoffs.

[Ben]

This place, as always, can pull the negative out of any positive result. Bravo to the team, now let's beat ATL.

And this place, as always, can generate sweeping pronouncements such as this when actually there has been an exchange between those who are overreacting to a player's good game or two and those who are calling for some realism. No one's unhappy that we beat Boston. That's great. But we've been playing like crap, and some fans like to talk about the team's long-term needs as well as simply to say "rah rah" one game at a time. There's always been room for both kinds of conversations, as you know from being a 12 year veteran.

My comments came after your exchange but wasn't directed at you. No need to be so defense. My statement was about this board as a whole this season. And as a 12 year veteran, I've seen worse teams with better conversation. Carry on though and so shall I.

Right back atcha, slim. Good stuff.

[Mbrahv0528]

Asking Derrick to draw more fouls is asking him to put him and his reconstructed knee in harms way. It's pretty clear that he is afraid of doing so and I really don't blame him.

[MrSparkle]

Asking Derrick to draw more fouls is asking him to put him and his reconstructed knee in harms way. It's pretty clear that he is afraid of doing so and I really don't blame him.

+1

I'd like to see it in ECFs and Finals, but no point in doing it now.

We know he's capable of it.

I'd rather see Jimmy fill the void, and have others step up.

[Mech Engineer]

Asking Derrick to draw more fouls is asking him to put him and his reconstructed knee in harms way. It's pretty clear that he is afraid of doing so and I really don't blame him.

Definitely....there is no need for Derrick to satisfy some random stat or requirement. He needs to stay on the court and develop his shooting game and also overcome his fear of driving to the basket.

Off-course, he will get calls once he starts getting hacked but he doesn't have to test it every game if his legs/body is sore.

As long as the Bulls are winning, let him take his 3 pt shots. That has to be one of his long term tools for success. It doesn't mean he will waste possessions in the playoffs taking crazy 3 pointers but he has more room for error now.

With Derrick having the ball many times at the end of possessions, he has to be used a little bit to taking 3s. It is too much to expect a perfect learning curve.

[jc23]

I always felt the all star break would be around the time Derrick started to show more consistency. With such a long layoff i still feel next season is when he will be as back as he is going to get, but if he can get to 80% of what he once was this year and we have health i really like our chances.

[Gmoney3]

Man that video against the Knicks almost brings tears to my eyes. Thats why I hate hate hate that he got injured. Just an athletic freak at the PG position, effortlessly explosive and agile.

He has shown he is still very very quick but I'm not sure if he is quite that fast now after the surgeries.

One thing that gets ridiculed on here though is turning a light switch on. I really think you could see a more relentless DRose (similar to the wreckless abandon he played the game pre surgery) in the playoffs. My reasoning is he would clearly amp up his aggressiveness in the playoffs pre-surgery too.

A lot of times the pre-surgery he would defer, pass, and focus more on getting teammates involved then in the playoffs he looked to attack even more.

I dont mind him saving himself a bit of wear and tear (hell lots of Bulls fans while he was out said that he must change his game) in the regular season if he can change his mindset and live in the lane in the playoffs.

I remember maybe are 3rd or the eliminating loss in the series against the Heat he just looked so determined and threw down some of the nastiest in game dunks I've ever seen (especially for a PG).

[MC3]

Man that video against the Knicks almost brings tears to my eyes. Thats why I hate hate hate that he got injured. Just an athletic freak at the PG position, effortlessly explosive and agile.

He has shown he is still very very quick but I'm not sure if he is quite that fast now after the surgeries.

One thing that gets ridiculed on here though is turning a light switch on. I really think you could see a more relentless DRose (similar to the wreckless abandon he played the game pre surgery) in the playoffs. My reasoning is he would clearly amp up his aggressiveness in the playoffs pre-surgery too.

A lot of times the pre-surgery he would defer, pass, and focus more on getting teammates involved then in the playoffs he looked to attack even more.

I dont mind him saving himself a bit of wear and tear (hell lots of Bulls fans while he was out said that he must change his game) in the regular season if he can change his mindset and live in the lane in the playoffs.

I remember maybe are 3rd or the eliminating loss in the series against the Heat he just looked so determined and threw down some of the nastiest in game dunks I've ever seen (especially for a PG).

agree. watching that Knicks video, current Derrick Rose has nothing on that Derrick Rose Frick athlete agility and speed, unstopabble. It will be miracle if he can get back to that. But miracles dont happens often. Watching that efforthless speed and cutting like butter through defense like he is Flash. I started crying. I dont know if we will ever see that again, that speed, that dunking and finishing in transition like that game against Knicks. It's make me sad.

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

Man that video against the Knicks almost brings tears to my eyes. Thats why I hate hate hate that he got injured. Just an athletic freak at the PG position, effortlessly explosive and agile.

He has shown he is still very very quick but I'm not sure if he is quite that fast now after the surgeries.

One thing that gets ridiculed on here though is turning a light switch on. I really think you could see a more relentless DRose (similar to the wreckless abandon he played the game pre surgery) in the playoffs. My reasoning is he would clearly amp up his aggressiveness in the playoffs pre-surgery too.

A lot of times the pre-surgery he would defer, pass, and focus more on getting teammates involved then in the playoffs he looked to attack even more.

I dont mind him saving himself a bit of wear and tear (hell lots of Bulls fans while he was out said that he must change his game) in the regular season if he can change his mindset and live in the lane in the playoffs.

I remember maybe are 3rd or the eliminating loss in the series against the Heat he just looked so determined and threw down some of the nastiest in game dunks I've ever seen (especially for a PG).

agree. watching that Knicks video, current Derrick Rose has nothing on that Derrick Rose Frick athlete agility and speed, unstopabble. It will be miracle if he can get back to that. But miracles dont happens often. Watching that efforthless speed and cutting like butter through defense like he is Flash. I started crying. I dont know if we will ever see that again, that speed, that dunking and finishing in transition like that game against Knicks. It's make me sad.

So far 2014-15 Derrick Rose reminds me an awful lot of 2009-10 Derrick Rose. He was coming back from injury to start that season too and his stats were down beforethe all-star break. If I remember this right, people were wondering if he'd even make the all-star team until he threw down that dunk on Dragic and the put up 40 on San Antonio. The 2nd half of the season was a prelude to MVP Derrick. He put up the same numbers in that 2nd half he was putting up around 24pts 8 asst per game - the same numbers that would get him the MVP trophy when he sustained them for an entire season.

Not saying he'll hit those numbers again. On this team he doesn't need to. But if history is any guide we should see much more consistency from Derrick after the all-star break. Again, he probably won't reach that same level, and I highly doubt he plays 41 straight. But it should be clear that he's playing the game much closer to the way he wants to play it.

[Rerisen]

While Derrick isn't the same as he was, and maybe never will be, I think we should consider that even if hadn't had any injuries, he would most likely naturally develop a more conservative game, not charging into the lane and trying to dunk all over people.

Look at LeBron James, even his last years in Miami, he didn't do as much of the highlight athletic stuff as in Cleveland.

[logical_art]

This place, as always, can pull the negative out of any positive result. Bravo to the team, now let's beat ATL.

And this place, as always, can generate sweeping pronouncements such as this when actually there has been an exchange between those who are overreacting to a player's good game or two and those who are calling for some realism. No one's unhappy that we beat Boston. That's great. But we've been playing like crap, and some fans like to talk about the team's long-term needs as well as simply to say "rah rah" one game at a time. There's always been room for both kinds of conversations, as you know from being a 12 year veteran.

My comment came after your exchange but wasn't directed at you. No need to be so defense. My statement was about this board as a whole this season. And as a 12 year veteran, I've seen worse teams with better conversation. Carry on though and so shall I.

This is the most talented team the Bulls have had since MJ and Pippen. This is a team with legitimate championship aspirations. Expectations are sky high and more often then not, even in victory, the Bulls have fallen short. Its unbelievable that you don't see how that justifiably generates negative comments, even in wins against **** teams.

[DaBulls82]

This is the most talented team the Bulls have had since MJ and Pippen. This is a team with legitimate championship aspirations. Expectations are sky high and more often then not, even in victory, the Bulls have fallen short. Its unbelievable that you don't see how that justifiably generates negative comments, even in wins against **** teams.

I'm sorry my thoughts are so unbelievable. If my team wins, I tend to be happy.

I'll be more Debbie Downer-ish come playoff time - I realize the board is in playoff form and I'm getting my Joakim on. Apologies.