Did you know Derrick Rose has a crystal ball?
Me either.
Confidence isn’t something the Chicago Bulls point guard lacks. Not out in the open at least. Through two major, ceiling-crippling, season-sacking injuries, he’s always spoke of returning to dominance. To call him upbeat would be a stretch, since he’s extremely stoic and often stone-faced. But the heart of a champion—whether you believe he’ll return to previous form or not—is clearly there.
Soon enough, Rose thinks an actual championship will be there too.
From the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Johnson:
DRose: "I know I'm going to win a championship soon. So I'm not worried about that."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 29, 2014
Interesting. Some might even say overly cocky. What Rose says most definitely defies superstition, unless he has a direct line to the basketball gods and knows the Bulls are headed to the promised land very, very soon.
These comments are typical Rose conveying his usual us-against-the-word-mentality. He’s not one for not believing in his team. Superstars are also self-assured by nature. Bravado is in their DNA. Others might have said the same thing. Rose’s sentiments are just different because he’s played in only 50 games—playoffs and regular season—since 2010-11. Speaking with such bluster when he hasn’t even withstood the rigors of an entire campaign for years is unconventional and, frankly, puts unnecessary pressure atop his already cross-carrying shoulders.
The Bulls should most definitely be able to contend in the baseborn Eastern Conference. They could be a top-two team if Rose is healthy. Even without him—assuming the health of everyone else—they have enough talent to remain right in the thick of things. But if a championship is their goal, they need him. That’s non-negotiable.
And as far as winning a title next season goes, it could, in fact, be the Bulls’ best chance. Paul George has relegated the Indiana Pacers to lottery duty, the Miami Heat have recovered from LeBron James’ departure in impressive fashion but still lack championship-caliber firepower, the Brooklyn Nets have spent themselves into mediocrity, the Toronto Raptors are still a second-round team, the Charlotte Hornets are right there with them, the Atlanta Hawks are still transitioning into their be-like-the-Spurs era and the New York Knicks are a mystery that is, at best, a top-five team. The Washington Wizards may be the biggest threat outside the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they’re far from perfect. Their defense should be good again, but they haven’t done much to upgrade what was a middling offensive attack last year. Improvement is tightly tethered to internal development (John Wall, Otto Porter, Bradley Beal) and Paul Pierce turning back the clock.
Speaking of those Cavaliers, though, they certainly look like Eastern Conference favorites. People are destroying their defensive potential and rightly so, but LeBron, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have the talent necessary to spearhead an historic offensive attack. If all goes according to plan, they’ll steamroll competitors, the Bulls included.
Only this is their first year together. Formations of this magnitude can take time. If there was ever a season to bet they wouldn’t reach the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals, it’s this inaugural crusade.
All of which gives the Bulls opportunity to make Rose look like an all-knowing seer—an opportunity they can only seize if Rose is healthy and productive, and the rest of the Eastern Conference falls into line behind them.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
