Why Isn’t Derrick Rose Having the Success of Westbrook and Curry?

With the Western Conference Finals now set for a showdown between Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry, Bulls fans have to wonder why Derrick Rose hasn’t rejoined the elite floor generals of the NBA today.

Any casual NBA viewer can quickly recognize the passing of the torch from the era of dominating big men, to the now outright guard driven NBA.

As great as LeBron James has been leading his Cleveland Cavaliers through two rather easy playoff series victories, the two best players in the 2016 NBA Playoffs thus far, have been point guards: Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry.

(Curry’s been dominant despite only playing in four games due to a right knee sprain, but he’s electrified the NBA with his performance in this year’s playoffs.)

Russell Westbrook during the 2016 Playoffs: 25.3 points, 10.7 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Stephen Curry during the 2016 Playoffs: 24.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in only 27.8 minutes per game.

More from Bulls News

• The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
• Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
• Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
• Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
• When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know

Westbrook and Curry, two guards with completely different strengths and leadership styles, share one noticeable and most important commonality: winning by any means necessary.

It seems that in only the last few seasons, NBA fans and media members have recently appointed these two players as the NBA’s best point guards.

In fact, not too long ago, if you asked anyone who the two best in the game were, you would have surely heard the names Chris Paul and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

Paul, 31, is still extremely effective, and had it not been for a broken hand in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, he and the Los Angeles Clippers could very well have been in a tough battle against Curry’s Warriors for a chance to play in the Western Conference Finals.

But, the curious name on the list is Rose.

More bulls: Could Jimmy Butler need knee surgery this summer?

Sure, it’s easy to blame Rose’s decline on his injuries. They have slowed him down over the years, but those who follow Rose closely know that he is still just as capable now of doing the high-flying antics and dunks as he was before those injuries.

As many know, in the summer of 2015, Westbrook and Rose trained together to get ready for the upcoming season, and according to Rose’s trainer Rob McClanaghan, Rose looked as good as he ever had.

“I worked out Derrick and Russell (Westbrook) together,” McClanaghan said. “It’s amazing how competitive those guys are in workouts. Unlike many guys in this league, those guys together push each other. It was like getting back to pre-draft ’08. Like Russell said (of Rose), everything is back to where it used to be. Derrick’s timing is back and mentally he’s in a very good place.”

So, if Rose is physically able to play at a high level, which he showed by playing 66 games this season — more than his last three seasons combined — and by averaging 16.4 points per game, how come he isn’t a winner like Westbrook and Curry?

From watching both Curry and Westbrook throughout their careers, and more specifically this season, there are two attributes that helps their team compete on a nightly basis and both are things that Rose actively avoids.

Westbrook: Rebounding

The other night against the San Antonio Spurs, former NBA legend and current in-game analyst Chris Webber proclaimed Westbrook as the best rebounding guard in the NBA and told the other big men of the NBA to take note how Westbrook actively seeks out tough rebounds.

Westbrook finished the regular season averaging 7.8 rebounds (and that’s on top of his 23.5 points and 10.4 assists a night). By actively pursuing rebounds, not only does Westbrook give the Oklahoma City Thunder extra opportunities on offense, but he gets the ball to the person that is maybe the scariest guy to guard in the open court: himself.

It’s amazing how competitive those guys are in workouts. Unlike many guys in this league, those guys together push each other.

-Rob McClanaghan

Getting extra possessions is something the Bulls could have used more of this season. The Bulls did finish third in the NBA in total rebounding, but considering the amount of misses the Bulls threw up this season, every extra possession could have made a difference.

Not only will I say that Rose is a naturally subpar rebounder, but he actively avoids pursuing rebounds in tight spaces on the court. This is most likely trying to avoid injury, which makes some sense, but keep in mind that Westbrook has underwent multiple surgeries on his knees and still manages to play with reckless abandon on a nightly basis.

Both players have the ability to jump, run, score and dish out assists, but there’s only one Russell Westbrook.

More bulls: Looking at Derrick Rose in Hoiball's second season

Stephen Curry: Defense and Steals

Sure, I could point out that Curry made 400+ three-pointers this season while shooting 45 percent from distance. I could point out the 6.7 assists he averages (and probably could be more if Draymond Green didn’t often get so many assists himself), but that would be too obvious.

In addition to shooting and passing excellence, what makes Curry a winner is his commitment to defense; something that’s been lacking from Rose. Rose can lock down players when he chooses to do so, but those events are few and far in between.

When you compare Rose’s season steals average to Curry’s (and granted, steals aren’t always the best determinant to defensive abilities), they are a fair indicator of a players determination to stop an offensive player from scoring.

Curry finished this season averaging 2.1 steals per contest, while Rose averaged 0.67 a game. Rose is both athletic and smart enough to manage at least one stolen ball a game, but defense takes desire and frankly, Rose hasn’t shown a consistent desire to want to be the best player in the NBA since 2011 when he was named the youngest NBA MVP in league history.

So, where does Rose go from here? At 27 years old, Rose should be looking to have some of his best years yet. His contract will be up after next season and Rose will want to be paid like a max contract player.

Next: This summer marks an intriguing time for Jimmy Butler and the Bulls

I have no doubt that he has the ability to score like a max player, but it is yet to be seen if he can rebound and defend like the ones that are still playing this season.