Derrick Rose was becoming the face of the most exciting league in the world before suffering a devastating injury. His patience has led him to the Pistons.
“Be patient. I’m good. I’m just taking my time,’’ Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose said in an article with Marcus J.Spears of The Undefeated back in 2017.
In case anyone has forgotten, in 2011 Rose was at the height of his career. Fresh off winning an MVP award, making the All-Star Team, and leading his team all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, he was becoming the face of the most exciting league in the world.
Rose was living the dream.
On April, 28, 2012 the Rose fans knew and loved had faded away when he tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Since that injury basketball fans have only seen a small glimpse of Rose’s prior athleticism. Imagine being so good that casual fans of the game adored you. That was Derrick Rose’s life.
When Derrick Rose made comments like, “I’m good” or “be patient,” years after being removed from superstar heights was quite devastating. At one point you could fell the league take huge sympathy for Rose. Every time Rose took a hit to the floor fans would hold their breath – hoping not to see another catastrophic injury to a star who was no more.
But yet again even after countless rehabilitation efforts and missed opportunities, there was Rose being patient – playing his journey out. From the outside looking in, it appeared to look like Rose was a broken puzzle unable to be fixed. No greater evidence loomed larger than his disappearance two years ago playing for Cleveland Cavaliers. Rose took some time away to think about his future in the NBA.
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Many wondered if the end of Rose’s career had just taken placed. Perhaps the journey left undiscovered would hurt basketball fans more than Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, or Brandon Roy injuries. Rose’s redemption story became a marathon race, that many fans didn’t mind waiting to see it through.
On March 8, 2018 Rose decided to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves and reunite with the one guy who believed in him – Tom Thibodeau. It was only fitting that choose to go with the guy many deem responsible for Rose’s fall from “basketball grace.” If anybody could push Rose to achieve greatness again it was Thibodeau.
Under Thibodeau, Rose achieved his best season with the Timberwolves since his injuries. He averaged 18 points per game to go with four assists, while shooting a career-high 37 percent from 3-point range.
Rose also endured a season in which he played 51 games and with his history 51 games is a bargain. If that’s not all Rose scored a career-high 50 points on Oct., 31,2018 against the Utah Jazz, in a win that defined who Rose is at his at his core.
‘’He has courage, he has humility and he has character,” Thibodeau said.
Many athletes watched that night as Rose scored 50, taking their comments to social media. Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Chris Paul and many more all showed their love and praise to an athlete that deserved it.
In Detroit, Rose signed with the Pistons this past offseason. During media day, Rose stated he wanted to come to Detroit because “he sees something” (here). The Eastern Conference is improved but much like last year with the defending champs Toronto Raptors it’s anybody’s conference to win.
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Rose is faced with an ultimate task in Detroit. He will be relied upon to bring energy off the bench and be the spark plug the Pistons have not had in quite some time. There will be pressure from fans and teammates for Rose to do the things he did in Minnesota that revived his career. However, if Detroit wants to make the playoffs they need a healthy Rose and not just the flashy high-speed, gear-shifting Rose.
Although many people will argue flashy high-speed gear shifting Rose is good enough for this team to compete, they are wrong. The fact is, every time he tries to become D-Rose of old he is back on injury reports. A strict minutes count is key.
Detroit should consider putting Rose on a 25-29 minutes count. This will allow for good usage all while preserving his body for playoffs. In the month of November last season Rose averaged 19 points per game, while shooting 54 percent from the field and 56 percent from the 3-point range. In December, he averaged 18 points per game while shooting a respectable 40 percent from behind the arc. For both months Rose averaged minutes were 29 and 30, respectfully.
That type of consistent bench production could help the Pistons drastically. It could also continue to but a fine mark in Rose’s redemption story.
The basketball world waited to see the game finally turn around for Rose. But as he told us, “be Patient. I’m good. I’m just taking my time”.