Derrick Rose: His Oral Report From Las Vegas!

Nov 21, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose warms up before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This is an interesting time for me at least here at Pippen Ain’t Easy. For the first time as  Editor I can actually talk about Derrick Rose being ON the basketball floor as opposed to being OFF of it.

Now the debates can really begin on if Derrick Rose will return to form or not. Now Pippen Peoples, the fun and fellowship begins.

Hopefully, Leroy Boyd and I will have something else to go back and forth on this year now that Carlos Boozer is gone.

Well, well, well and well! We here at Pippen Ain’t Easy can step away from speculation articles trying to figure out who’s going where and all of the scenarios behind it. Life is good once again. The Team USA started practice this week and there are plenty of Chicago Bulls representations in Vegas this week.

Besides Derrick Rose trying out for the team. Tom Thibodeau is on the coaching staff and Doug McDermott has been selected on the USA Select squad. But the story of this week if you are a Chicago Bulls happens to be the two knees of Derrick Rose.

Check out the comments from head coach Mike Krzyzewski on Bulls.com.

"“Better than four years ago.”"

How about Chicago Bulls rookie Doug McDermott who’s USA Select Team is scrimmaging against the National Team hopefuls.

"“Looked explosive, I thought he  was one of the best players here”"

How about Tom Thibodeau? What does he think about Derrick Rose and his comeback attempt? How does he look?

"“The same (speed and explosiveness). The strength in his leg is great. His explosion is back. That’s all there.”"

Yeah, whatever. Enough of the politically correct sound bites. Let’s hear from the USA Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

"“If today was ant indication he is going to be just fine. I think it’s  a glowing report for a great player. I’m excited for him. You are talking about a former MVP in the league. I did not see any loss of explosiveness. I  saw him turn, go to the hoop with reckless abandon a little bit, hit some  outside shots, excellent defense.”"

Pippen Peoples, now I’m starting to believe. Jerry Colangelo tells it like it is. If Derrick Rose was stinking up the floor, he’d say so. If he didn’t have what it takes to make the squad, he be sent home and he would tell the press why. If this guy likes what he sees, I’ll start paying attention a little bit.

It seems that Derrick Rose has been talking himself this week. Check out how he expressed his confidence to ESPN Chicago about feeling like his old self…

"“I’m there, man” Rose said, “I’m not worried about that. My confidence is very high and that’s the only thing you might see this year–that my confidence level is through the roof.”"

Well for Derrick Rose, that cool to know because there are a ton of Chicago Bulls fans waiting to see just that after only seeing a shell version of it for 10 games in the last two seasons. Look it should be well-known to Bulls fans that Derrick Rose works hard. Real hard. He wants to prove his doubters wrong.

Check out some of his comments to CSN Chicago recently about being a different player.

"” I think you will see that next year. Just trying to keep people off my body. Using  a lot of floaters, using a lot of pull ups, stuff like that, so I won’t get touched  as much,” Rose sais. “I’m a totally different player. I comes with experience, just playing through your mistakes. Just playing in an NBA game, you are going to learn. So I’m happy that I had people around  me to give me advice, learn from people and I’m happy I have the I.Q. to actually learn.”"

That probably included logging on to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best  choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. I had been saying for months that Derrick Rose needed to change his game up. What does Mark Jackson say about Father Time? Yep, still undefeated. His knees maybe 100 percent but don’t you think Rose should make adjustments to keep them that way?

If you are a  Chicago Bulls fan, if what his last comment said is true, Pippen Peoples, you might be looking at a number two seed in the East, number three at the absolute worst.

Here’s why.

Derrick Rose does not need to do  all those things he did in his MVP year. He has weapons to use. Maybe for the first time in his career he will have to run a conventional offense instead of having  to create and break down the defense which in turn broke down his body. It looks like he has worked on his mental game while he was injured. Derrick Rose is moving away from the early style of ball that wore on his body to a more efficient style of ball that will add years to his  career. What’s wrong with that? All players do it. That is if they want to stay around for a long time.

If that is the case and it becomes a factor, fans will look back in a couple of years looking at the injuries as a blessing in disguise.

Derrick Rose has said that he is going to make a lot of people “eat their words.” Okay Derrick, if you play some games and make an impact, pass the hot sauce. But now the spotlight is on you. You have weapons all over  the floor and your point guard skills and the way you run a NBA offense will be watched closely by basketball experts. Now you go from a great player to being a floor general.

At least that’s what you said to the  Chicago Sun Times about Pau Gasol.

"“Great, Great,” “When you think about Gasol, him winning championships and bringing that experience to our team and him being around our bigs like Joakim Noah. and talking to them and giving advice? Like c’mon, I think that’s all we needed.”"

That’s cool D-Rose, as long as you know that it’s your job to get him that ball in positions where he can be successful.

To all the Pippen Peoples, contrary to  popular belief, I hope Derrick Rose plays the entire season. That or the 70 games that the Bulls will hold him to which is being floated around the campfire in random reports. It’s good for me professionally. I have  something to cover. It’s good for the league because he’s a superstar. It’s good for the fans because I don’t think anyone should put up with  Kirk Hinrich in the starting lineup…again.

Keep it  locked to Pippen Ain”t Easy as we go through the USA tryouts and Derrick Rose’s progress.