The Re-Agressivization of Derrick Rose [And Why Vinny Might Be to Blame]
As I wrote in an earlier post, Rose clearly is not playing at 100% after an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the preseason. He claims he is about 90% healthy but to be honest he looks 60% at best on most nights. What strikes anyone watching Bulls games so far this year is, no matter what the reason, he is just not attacking the basket with the same ferocity that he did last year. Whether its because he is hurt or some other reason, that is the main problem with his game. Without him breaking down defenses on penetration, all those good open shots the Bulls were getting last season have evaporated.
Rose thinks there is something else afoot, and he intends to act on that tonight versus the Lakers:
Rose made a vow to a group of reporters after Wednesday’s practice at USC that he wouldn’t cut his hair until he gets on track.
“We’re winning, so I don’t care anything about my game. But if we weren’t winning, I’m playing terrible. I’m not going to the hole like I used to. It seems to me that I’m not that aggressive. But it’s going to change (Thursday night against the Lakers).”
“This has to be the first time in my whole life that I’m not being aggressive,” Rose said. “The injury definitely had something to do with it. But I have to fight through it.
Okay, Derrick. Hopefully you will have a haircut by tomorrow night. Anyways, here is where you could make an argument to blame Vinny. Let’s assume that Rose is injured, but that injury is not the main problem. Instead lets say the problem is mental and Rose has just been too timid. If that is the case, then why didn’t Vinny sit him down and tell him to be more aggressive a couple weeks ago? That is literally a coach’s job. That being said, I am inclined to believe that Rose’s injury plays a far greater role than he will admit, and Vinny is just being cautious with his young superstar.
On the other hand, if Rose is all of a sudden aggressive tonight against the Lakers, that is going to reflect poorly on Vinny Del Crapo.
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