Rose Self-Creates Mental Barriers When Injured

All things considered, the Chicago Bulls have done a heck of a job transcending all obstacles thrown at them en-route to an impressive 4-1 beginning to the 2014-2015 season. In 5 regular seasons games thus far, the Bulls haven’t been completely healthy as a team in a single one. The team that they are now doesn’t even scratch the surface of what they can become when all their players are healthy and the collective team is firing on all cylinders.

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Hopefully, the Bulls are getting all of their injuries and illnesses out of the way now so they are ready to go once it starts to matter in the playoffs. Knock on wood.

Following a similar blueprint as previous years, the Chicago Bulls can’t escape the injury and sickness bug. Five games in, and the Chicago Bulls have already sustained injuries or illnesses to 4 of their key players causing each to miss at least one game.

Joakim Noah has missed the last two games with an illness. Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago reports that Noah surprised his teammates in the locker room following the game against Milwaukee and is listed as a game time decision for Friday’s game against Philadelphia.

Nov 1, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) celebrates with forward Joakim Noah (13) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Bulls defeated the Timberwolves 106-105. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Butler missed the first two games of the season with a left hand injury that he sustained midway through the preseason. Building on his preseason success, Butler has averaged 19.7 points per game in his first three games this season. Couple that with the fact that he consistently guards the oppositions best wing player effectively on a nightly basis, and Butler has risen to an all-star caliber talent in the short span of a year. Knock on wood that the great play continues.

Taj Gibson suffered a high ankle sprain against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday. Although he returned in this game, he eventually had to sit out the following night against Minnesota. Like Butler, Gibson has returned with a vengeance, he recorded his first double-double of the season with a 23 point, 10 rebound performance.

Nov 5, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) blocks the dunk attempt of Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

And then there is Derrick Rose. We as Bulls fans can roll with the relatively minor injuries sustained by the above players, but the last man in the world that we want to see get re-injured is Derrick Rose. Rose has struggled to stay healthy during this young season, only playing 2.5 of 5 games thus far. Last Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rose landed on the foot of Kyrie Irving causing both of his ankles to sprain. After initially trying to toughen it out through the pain, Rose ultimately was taken to the locker room during the 4th quarter of an eventual Chicago Bulls loss. Rose opted to sit out the ensuing 2 games in an effort to rehabilitate his hurt ankles. He returned on Wednesday against Milwaukee but didn’t look like the same aggressive Derrick Rose we are used to seeing. In a post-game interview with members of the press, Rose revealed the reason behind his complacency.

"“Of course I wasn’t 100 percent tonight but I felt like we needed this win,” Rose said. “And just try to come out here and do anything it takes to get this win with my teammates.”"

Additionally, Derrick reportedly re-tweaked his ankle(s) in a second quarter collision during this game. While the Bulls came out with the win, and that ultimately is the most important thing every night, Derrick Rose was clearly out of sorts against Milwaukee on Wednesday. He scored 13 points on 4-10 shooting but most of his production came on outside shooting, not his bread-and-butter ability to attack the basket. True, Derrick dished out 7 assists and did enough to help his team secure a victory, but it just wasn’t the same Derrick Rose that we are used to seeing.

Nov 5, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight (11) during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

So now, I have this to say. I realize I’m opening myself up to criticism from Bulls fans, but as a caveat I’d like to reiterate that I’m an avid Derrick Rose supporter. Just today, I was defending Derrick Rose against the batterings of my misinformed friend.

This season, and right now it is a ridiculously small 5 game sample size, Derrick Rose has struggled overcoming the mental hurdle of playing slightly injured. In the Cleveland game where he sprained his ankle he had 18 points in the first half but only mustered up two after hurting himself. Even the most avid Derrick Rose fan must admit that he was hurting against the Bucks and just didn’t look the same.

This season Rose has struggled performing up to his optimal level because his mindset isn’t quite right when he is concerned about an injury. Rose sat out the two games against the Timberwolves and Magic because he didn’t feel like he had the speed and explosiveness off the ankle to play effectively. He pre-determined his outcome in the Milwaukee game by deciding that his ankles weren’t quite ready for him to play at his normal level.

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With the current injury, Rose has created a mental barrier that is disallowing the former MVP from reaching his former level of success. Sure it is two games, but the pattern makes so much sense that it may hold true for the entire season. See, in my humble opinion, Derrick Rose’s biggest flaw is the fact that he is a perfectionist. He doesn’t want to go out there unless he knows he can play 100% and dominate like he did pre-ACL injury. Against Milwaukee Rose told himself that he wasn’t 100%, and this self created notion led to Derrick adjusting his playing style to avoid further re-aggravating the injury. Although often temporary, Rose adjusts his playing style when he is injured as a test to see if he can play through the injury. Once he is confident that he is all-right, he goes full throttle once again. However, the Bulls need to eliminate these adjustment periods where Derrick Rose isn’t playing his style of basketball.

See, Derrick Rose is one of the best players in the entire league; top five and best point guard in my opinion. The one thing I’d like to see him do better is play through injuries. Obviously, depending on the severity of the injury, Rose won’t be able to play at 100%. But, I still want to see him playing the same way that he usually does and laying it all out there for the team despite the injury in question. Every player can improve mentally, and for Rose this mental improvement centers around his ability to not pre-determine the outcome of the game by creating mental barriers based on injuries.

Nov 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) practices before the game against the Orlando Magic at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

And, for the record, I personally think Rose is one of the most mentally tough players in the league. He overcame possibly the biggest mental obstacle of his career by coming back from the second injury and showing that he still is an elite player. In the game against the Knicks and the opening half against the Cavaliers, Derrick fearlessly drove towards the basket stirring up memories of years past. With this under his belt, there is no doubt in my mind that Rose will overcome the mental slump that he is currently in.

In reality, Rose sitting out games is a positive if it can boost his confidence and shorten the acclimation period for returning to his normal level of play. Rose was decent on Wednesday against Milwaukee but he was a shadow of his dominating MVP self.

Rose’s full maturation as a player will occur when these mental slumps no longer occur. He needs to learn how to play his brand of basketball through injury because come the playoffs nobody is completely healthy. When Rose does this, look out, because he may just turn out to be the most complete player in the entire league.