Derrick Rose showing Detroit Pistons, NBA who he is – not who he was
There are fond memories of Derrick Rose pre-catastrophic knee injury. But it’s time for the NBA to accept the Detroit Pistons version of who he is and not what he was.
Derrick Rose is electrifying and his assassin mentality has stayed with him throughout his career and into his 11th season.
His first two games with the Detroit Pistons have been nothing short of spectacular. He started the season making 15-of-21 shots and has 45 points on 27 shots. That’s 1.67 points per shot and, remarkably, he’s only taken on 3-pointer in his first 52 minutes of game action.
Granted its a small sample size, but he’s even dishing 6 assists per game, at a career-high rate of 41.4 percent. So far, he’s proven to have the moves and speed to get by capable defenders and get open looks. The majority of his shots are coming with at least two feet of space and are either within two feet of the rim or from at least 16 feet away.
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Rose is the floor general the Pistons have needed. Through two games he has shown he can get a bucket at any time or hit the open man, sporting a 1.71 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The game of basketball gets a lot easier when your team has a ball handler that can create space for passing or shooting lanes.
Detroit’s issue is it can’t afford to lose Rose for a long period of time. Reggie Jackson is dealing with a back injury and isn’t healthy. Blake Griffin is out through the first week of November. The Pistons need Rose in a larger sample size now but know they can’t use him.
Dwane Casey and the Pistons know that’s what they have to do to improve on last year’s 41-41 season and first-round exit out of the playoffs. It’s part of who Rose is, having played no more than 66 games in a season since his knee injury in 2012.
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As frustrating as that is for Pistons and NBA fans alike, it’s the reality of who Rose is. He’s a tremendous player and athlete, even today, but needs to proceed carefully with a long-term goal of making the playoffs, something he’s done once since 2015, and winning a championship.
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What’s great about Rose is so many people can relate to his story. He was a gifted athlete that suffered a life-changing event that he had to overcome. It’s still a process and it’s a large reason why even casual NBA fans continue to follow his journey and root Rose on.
Rose has had to be patient to get to where he’s at. He still has monumental goals – winning Sixth Man of the Year and a NBA championship – that could solidify his legacy and complete the path to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He’s accepted who he is. He can still create shots for himself, whether its with a killer crossover or blazing speed, and others. Rose’s efficient scoring is something to admire, just like when he won the MVP in 2011. The difference is he’ll do it in 25-27 minutes per game instead of the 35-37 minutes per game many were accustomed to.
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It’s our turn to accept Rose’s greatness with the long-term health and career goals he has in mind.