Which Derrick Rose Will the Bulls Get in Game 2?

After outdueling Kyrie Irving in the Bulls’ 99-92 victory in Game 1, which Derrick Rose are the Bulls getting in an important Game 2?

Despite a shoulder stinger in the final moments of Game 1 on Monday night, Derrick Rose played like the old Derrick Rose, scoring 25 points and dishing out five assists in the seven-point win for the Bulls.

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Rose had a pop in his step, nailing some tough shots, including two jumpers in the face of Cavs forward LeBron James.

The Bulls came into Cleveland on Monday on three days of rest after their Game 6 in Milwaukee, and it showed. Four starters scored in double-figures, led by Rose’s 25.

There’s no denying how good Derrick Rose has been when he’s had time to rest his body. So far in the postseason, when Rose has had two or more days of rest, he’s averaging 24.3 points per contest, while shooting at a 48.1 percent clip from the field.

On one day of rest however, Rose is only averaging 14.0 points per game, while shooting just 29.8 percent from the floor.

So, the $64,000 question is: Which Derrick Rose will show up in Game 2 on Wednesday night in Cleveland on one day of rest?

To get an idea of how Rose could come out in Game 2, let’s look at his production against the Cavaliers this season:

Halloween Night vs. CLE: 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting, four assists and three rebounds in 25:18. (One day of rest, but it was only the second game of the season.)

Jan. 19 vs. CLE: 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 29:56. (One day of rest, along with the fourth game in six nights for the Bulls.

Feb. 12 vs. CLE: 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting, seven assists and four rebounds in 40:35. (One day of rest, fourth win in a row for the Bulls at the time.)

Rose didn’t play in the April 5 meeting between the teams in Cleveland due to the right meniscus surgery he had back in February.

In all three games against Cleveland, Rose played on one day of rest and was rather productive in the process. The Bulls lost three of four meetings against Cleveland in the regular season, but for once, they’re healthy and ready to go, and that includes Rose.

When Rose was asked by reporters about the difference between one and multiple days of rest, the 26-year-old said,

"“My routine don’t change for anything. If anything, I probably do more recovery things like ice and stim work, NormaTec, things like that. Do that a little bit more, hydrate a little bit more, but I think I’m in a good routine right now.”-Derrick Rose on his recovery between games, ESPNChicago.com"

Along with his emphasis on making sure his body is 100 percent, Rose realizes that he doesn’t have to do it himself this time around against a LeBron-led team in the playoffs.

As good as Rose was in Game 1, Jimmy Butler battled LeBron in over 44 minutes of action on Monday, Pau Gasol took over the contest with 13 points in the third quarter alone and Mike Dunleavy continued his hot shooting with a trio of threes early on to get the Bulls going.

Game 2 could turn out to be the most important game of this series, with Cleveland fighting to stay out of an 0-2 hole with Game 3 looming in Chicago on Friday night.

And, if Derrick Rose plays like he’s had multiple days off again, the Cavaliers could be in serious trouble.

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