When considering all sports, a player’s height is most significant in basketball. Because of this, players are typically pigeon-holed into playing predetermined positions simply because of how tall they are and they must adjust to playing that role even if their game doesn’t mesh. Look no further than Derrick Rose.
I’m not from Chicago, so I wasn’t introduced to Derrick Rose on an everyday basis until he arrived at the University of Memphis where he played Point Guard for one year under John Calipari. Even at Memphis, Rose wasn’t afraid to shoot and score the ball because that’s what he did best. As a pro, that trend is still true. Although he averaged 7.7 assists this season (which is decent for a Point Guard) Rose was tied for the league lead for shot attempts per game. Both he and Kevin Durant, the league’s leading scorer, jacked up 19.7 field goal attempts per regular season contest. However, in the playoffs Rose has blown Durant away, and everyone else as well. Derrick is amazingly taking 24.2 shots per game in the postseason.
Because of this, Rose has been criticized for shooting too much. However, the only reason people, myself included, are claiming he’s shooting too much is because he’s the Point Guard. Well, it’s time we all realize that Derrick Rose is not a PG. Yeah, he’s 6’3″ which typically is the height for someone who plays that position, but so what? Derrick Rose is simply a Shooting Guard who is playing out of position. He was told once upon a time that he had to be a PG because of his height and that’s how it’s been ever since.
Tom Thibodeau needs to move Rose to the 2, start backup PG C.J. Watson, and bring Keith Bogans off the bench. Done. Problem solved. Rose is probably the best 1-on-1 player in the league so he doesn’t need to hear everyone’s scrutiny for doing what he does best: scoring. Watson is only 6’2″, so the Bulls would have a short back court, but they’d manage. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.
A little over a decade ago, the Philadelphia 76ers made a similar decision. They moved the 6’0″ Iverson to the 2-guard and 6’3″ Eric Snow was the everyday PG. The move was so effective that the Sixers made the 2000 NBA Finals. The Bulls should do the same thing. Watson is a very good player and is probably more serviceable than Snow was. I did, however, notice that he looked for his own shot on occasion when he relieved Rose, but he has decent court vision and I’d be willing to bet everything I own that he would curtail any desire to shoot if he’s starting in the back court with the league’s MVP.
If Iverson could play the 2, so can Rose. Let’s forget about height. If not, let’s move Dirk to Center, Magic and Penny should’ve been Small Forwards and Barkley should’ve been a Shooting Guard. The Bulls would operate more efficiently and would instantly become a slightly better team. Watson is a much better player than Bogans. The Bulls won’t miss Keith’s 5ppg playoff average. And who knows, maybe Boozer will decide to show up in the playoffs eventually so Rose won’t have to shoot as much.
Even with this move, the Bulls would still be a flawed team because Rose has no help. He shot the ball 32 times last night. I don’t care what position you play, that’s alot and isn’t a recipe for success. I stated before that teams where the PG shoots the most don’t typically win rings, but the fact of the matter is neither do teams where one guy is the entire offense.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
