Rose getting to the point
He came on so strong at the end of last season and looked right at home in the postseason that a natural question in his second year is whether Derrick Rose will be able to move up to the select group of point guards in the NBA.
Actually the question isn’t whether he will, but when will the ascent actually occur?
Whether Rose will make an appreciable leap in his second season running the Chicago Bulls offense remains to be seen, but few doubt that he will eventually be listed among the NBA’s best point guards.
Coming off an outstanding showing in his first postseason, Rose provided enough evidence that he is going to be a serious impact player. This should be no revelation since Rose was the first player taken in the 2008 draft.
First, before glancing into the future, it’s impossible not to look behind. In losing a seven-game opening round series to the Boston Celtics, Rose was truly an impact player. While players don’t always match their regular season statistics in the postseason, Rose exceeded his output.
As a rookie, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 turnovers. Against the Celtics in a truly pulsating first-round, Rose averaged 19.7 points, 6.4 assists, 6.3 rebounds. Of course it must be noted that he averaged over seven minutes a game more in the postseason.
Two negatives were that he averaged 5.0 turnovers in that Boston series and he missed all four of his three point attempts.
Both statistics are related because Rose is not yet a threat as a three-point shooter. He shot 22.2 percent in the regular season. Since he derives so much of his offense by driving to the basket, he is more apt to turn the ball over while attempting to create his own scoring opportunities.
The other part of Rose’s game that must improve is his defense. True, when somebody is creating so much on offense, there is a tendency to rest on D. Yet to move up to the elite level, he has to make a better effort when the opponent has the ball.
One other question about Rose will be his health. He just turned 21, played in 81 games during his Rookie of the Year campaign and averaged 44.7 minutes in the playoff series with Boston. However, Rose suffered an ankle injury during this preseason and still hasn’t looked 100 percent, although in an opening 92-85 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Rose had 13 points (5 for 12 shooting), seven rebounds, seven assists and just one turnover in 33 minutes.
While there can always be debate, it says here that Chris Paul of New Orleans and Utah’s Deron Williams are currently the top two point guards in the NBA. (It’s hard to believe that Williams hasn’t earned an All-Star invitation, something that should be remedied this year).
The thing that has to be noticed about both is that they have improved each year in the league. Both are now in their fifth NBA season.
Last year Paul was a first-team All-NBA Defensive Team selection while Williams received three second-team votes.
Like Rose, Paul was a poor three-point shooter as a rookie. He shot .282 from beyond the arc as a rookie and last year was up to .364. Williams on the other hand had his best three-point shooting season as a rookie (.410) and worst last year (.310) and that remains an inconsistent part of his game.
Still, both Williams and Paul are much better shooters and defenders than Rose and each has more savvy as a floor leader. That is to be expected with their experience.
In looking at Paul and Williams, it’s interesting how players develop.
Williams made his great improvement, at least from a statistical standpoint between his first and second year, going from 10.8 points and 4.5 assists per game to 16.2 and 9.3 his second season. Of course his minutes increased more than eight per game, but his improved play earned Williams the extra minutes.
Paul made his biggest gain between his second and third season. He went from averaging 17.3 points and 8.9 assists his second year to 21.1 points and 11.6 assists his third season.
What made that leap so impressive is that his playing time went up less than one minute per game.
It goes to show that players develop at different rates. Don’t be surprised if Rose shows his greatest improvement between his second and third seasons.
Before taking aim at Paul or Williams, there are several other point guards that will provide plenty of competition for Rose, including greybeards such as Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd. There are also veterans with All-Star experience (Devin Harris, Tony Parker, Gilbert Arenas, Mo Williams, Jameer Nelson, Baron Davis) and others looking to crack the top group (Rajon Rondo, Jose Calderon, Russell Westbrook).
Rose has the ability to move above all these point guards before taking direct aim at Paul and Williams. Asking for it to happen in his second season may be too much to expect.
jthrii Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 12:06 am
this young guy can flat out play…………he’s the real deal………….nobody can check him……the nba better watch out because this guy is coming by storm………he’s like a ball of fire…………
Porky Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
He is decent but Rondo is the best PG in the game at this point.
slamfan4life Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
you’re jokinh right? Rondo? haha wow you must not watch the game
Porky Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
“you’re jokinh”….right. Please take a class in English 101, pal. No, I have never seen a hoop game. I am from outer space and just landed but turned on NBATV last eve and saw this humanoid name “Rondo” and I just decided he must be the greatest player in the world. So, excuse me, Mr. High IQ for my ignorance.
nba Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
SORRY CHRIS PAUL IS THE BEST !!!!! EASY TO SEE
Porky Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
Chris Paul does have all the answers…but then Rondo changes the questions.
Zing.
Dj Quest Said,
November 2, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
Yikes.. Porky must either be from Boston, have close ties to Rondo, or have a strong dislike for others…Not sure why the venom towards others was displayed… IQ?? Why go there…? Anyway…
But to Slamfam4life’s credit… he is right. Rondo is not the best PG in the game.
I guess it’s like ice cream. All of it’s really good, just depends on what flavor you happen to like or crave that day. Example, Steve Nash is a great facilitor and shooter, a pass 1st and 2nd pg, but is horrible on the defensive end. Tony Parker is a score at all costs PG who get’s his assists by forcing opposing bigs to leave Tim to help out on the screen and roll or strong drives to the basket. Both get the job done but do it differently. But skill wise, CP3 and D-Will are pretty much the class of the league. Time will tell if they are able to nab championships or if they will toil on bad teams their whole careers.
I wouldn’t put Rose in the upper tier yet.
CP3
D-Will
Chauncey B B B B BIllups (Porky will now question my IQ for this one)
Nash
Tony Langoria
Jury is still out on Agent Zero… He’s gotta make through a season before we can put him the elite.
RJeter Said,
November 3, 2009 @ 5:03 am
Excuse me? How funny hahahaha let me catch my breath. uhm no! He is very athletic and a great talent but noway will I take him before Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, Baron Davis (when healthy), Gilbert Arenas, Deron Williams and new all-star Jameer Nelson!
RJeter Said,
November 3, 2009 @ 5:04 am
Hold up! Porky? Rondo? haahahahahahhahaahahahahah That was the joke of the day!
Vlietinho Said,
November 3, 2009 @ 6:18 am
Let’s see how he does tonight against Brandon Jennings…
skizzle Said,
November 4, 2009 @ 3:01 am
I was simply blown away that Rondo got a 55 bajillion dollar contract extension. How in the world is he worth 11 mil a year? I’m not saying he isn’t any good…he is pretty good…but he isn’t 11 a year good. Celtics have some deep pockets, but I didn’t realize they could spend that kind of scrilla badilla.
Way over paid. Maybe 6-7 mil a year would be more accurate for him (in his prime, which is right now).
Porky Said,
November 4, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Celts are…5-0. Best record = best PG.
Just the facts ma’am.
Joross Said,
November 5, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Celtics can top the standings with any point guard in their line up as long as pierce is healthy…rondo is just lucky to be there.
Porky Said,
November 5, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Make that 6-0.
Henryhk Said,
November 10, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
re best point guards in the game, why do most commentators ignore Tony Parker?
Robert Geczi Said,
November 13, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Porky, you really are a dunce. Look at Rondo’s supporting cast. If ANYONE had that supporting cast they would definately flourish. You have to take everything into consideration, not only the fact that the team is doing well. Look at when Rondo first entered the NBA, and compare that to Rose, then tell me who had more of an impact. Rondo was put in as PG out of need, because they shipped off everyone to get KG.
So, if we are going to compare the two, based on what they did with the team, I choose Rose as the hands down winner. Look at Rose’s impact, as mentioned, and look at his supporting cast. Enough said.