Thursday 25th April 2024,
The Hoop Doctors

Derrick Rose: The Sophmore Slump

Derrick Rose

December 16, 2009 – Matt Anaya

Matt graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in May of 2007 majoring in TV Production. Matt is currently a writer at StaticMultimedia.com, TheBleacherReport.com, NationalSportsNation.com, SportsMixed.com, FanFever.com, Filmcatcher.com, 2 Much Swag, and TheHoopDoctors.com. Matt will provide you with insightful wit and an eager eye for sports.

Derrick Rose has not gotten any better this season; in fact, he has gotten worse.

His numbers are down across the board: MPG, FG%, 3P%, FT%, RPG, APG, PPG, and his TOs are up and although it is also his teammates’ fault, D-Rose was supposed to be able to carry a team through the rough spots, and he is not doing that this season because he has no idea how to run an NBA team.

To run an NBA team as a PG you must know how to do one of two things effectively and consistently; run the pick-and-roll and/or the fastbreak.

Other than Steve Nash, no one is great at running the fastbreak and pick-and-roll, and you do not have to have to be great at running both to be a good player.

Just pick one, Derrick, because you are not very good at either.

Derrick is struggling, just like the rest of his crummy teammates and he recently said in an interview how he cannot always take over games because he is the PG.

Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Steve Nash are PGs that always take games over. They are in total control of the game when they are on the court, as the ball is always in their hands.

Williams is the best at running the fast break, CP3 is the best at running the pick-and-roll, and Nash is awesome at both and all three players are 2010 All Stars who take games over at the PG position.

Williams, Paul, and Nash are clearly better than Rose at this point in their careers and all three were still in college on their 21st birthday, so maybe we have to wait another two years to make a final judgment on Rose, but PGs do take games over, and have forever.

”People say they want me to shoot the ball more, but I’m the point guard; I can’t do that. I’ve got to pass the ball to people and get people open. Taking over as a point guard is getting people open and shooting here and there. If I was a 2-guard, it would be something else,” Derrick said in an interview with the Chicago media but what Rose does not understand is the PG does what it takes to win.

Not only are Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Chris Paul PGs, they are the best players on their team, just like Rose is.

The best player on the team needs to facilitate the offense, no matter what position he plays, and do whatever it takes to win; whether that be hitting an open jumper, driving the lane, setting teammates up, or drawing a crucial foul.

Derrick is still very young and has never learned how to play the PG position as he could run and jump his way to the rim with little effort in high school and college.

I have no idea what he was working on this summer as his jump shot is as ugly as it was probably in 8th grade and he needs to make an adjustment and learn the FUNdamentals of the pick-and-roll and the fastbreak to be an effective player in the NBA.

Until then he will be averaging close to 16 PPG and his team will stink because he has no clue how to run an NBA team.

Hit me up on Twitter.com/ShmattShmanaya

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