What do we need realistically from Rose to be contenders? Besides him coming back and staying healthy?

[Ice Man]

Derrick at 80% and the current Jo would do. It's been a LONG time since Jo was healthy and had a strong playoffs (not just a game or two, but the whole playoffs). It is critical that he do so for this team's chances.

[jumpstart]

after missing a month or more, I'm not holding out much hope for him to get to where we need him. If he hadn't gotten injured, I think he would of been on a good path! Like another poster suggested, keep the TO at 4 or under and that should help. The best we can hope is that he can at least attack the rim by the time the playoffs role around.

[Mech Engineer]

It is turnovers especially when scoring is tough. Derrick can shoot badly but Thibs can adjust to half court offense. But, when teams get a fast break or Derrick turns over, it leads to momentum breaking baskets.

Derrick needs focus on the ball and I hope he doesn't try to do too much which is his weakness. He needs to trust others with the ball (not being passive himself ) but be a better decoy. He still doesn't run back quickly on offense and looks for the ball even when a Jimmy, Joakim has it.

[BoocheeMan1117]

Rose as is can outplay John Wall, Kyrie Irving, and Kyle Lowry. We'll be fine.

[BoocheeMan1117]

It is turnovers especially when scoring is tough. Derrick can shoot badly but Thibs can adjust to half court offense. But, when teams get a fast break or Derrick turns over, it leads to momentum breaking baskets.

Derrick needs focus on the ball and I hope he doesn't try to do too much which is his weakness. He needs to trust others with the ball (not being passive himself ) but be a better decoy. He still doesn't run back quickly on offense and looks for the ball even when a Jimmy, Joakim has it.

His being a decoy was much better than Brooks/Hinrich attempt to be a real threat.

[Mech Engineer]

It is turnovers especially when scoring is tough. Derrick can shoot badly but Thibs can adjust to half court offense. But, when teams get a fast break or Derrick turns over, it leads to momentum breaking baskets.

Derrick needs focus on the ball and I hope he doesn't try to do too much which is his weakness. He needs to trust others with the ball (not being passive himself ) but be a better decoy. He still doesn't run back quickly on offense and looks for the ball even when a Jimmy, Joakim has it.

His being a decoy was much better than Brooks/Hinrich attempt to be a real threat.

That's not the point. This is for elite offense or offense against elite teams in the playoffs. Kirk/Brooks don't even belong in that discussion as PGs.

[johnnyvann840]

I don't think you can put a number on it. He has to come back and play great though. He needs to step up like we've seen him do this year in 4th Q's, They were too few and far between, but THOSE moments need to show up more as the playoffs progress. We are not getting past Lebron and the Cavs without Derrick being the closer he can and Jo playing like he did last night.. and we are gonna need every bit of a healthy Taj on D and Snell is gonna have to continue to contribute.

He needs to take care of the ball better, first and foremost.

To win a Championship, you have to catch lightning in a bottle.. Ala, Jason Terry and Mavs. We need our stars to be stars when they have to and we need an unlikely hero or two to step up when the brightest lights come on. The title teams always have that.


oh, yeah , AND THEN YOU NEED GOOD HEALTH. or relatively good health for an NBA team in June.