Derrick Rose: MVP Knows He Needs to Be Aggressive to Beat Miami Heat's Killer D

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Derrick Rose Says Heat Are Playing the Best Defense He's Seen All Season

Statistically, Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose is doing pretty well so far against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. In three games, he's averaging 23 points and 6.3 assists, pretty close to his regular season averages of 25 and 7.7.

However, as we all know, numbers don't tell the full story. Rose has struggled mightily in the last two games of the series, making just 15 of his 42 shot attempts for 41 points. The Heat have won both games to take a 2-1 series lead.

When he's going good, Rose can score at will. Therefore, it stands to reason that his struggles in the last two games have a lot to do with Miami's defense.

The man himself thinks so. In fact, he was asked earlier on Tuesday if the Heat are playing the best defense he's seen all season.

"Right now, yes," Rose said, according to ESPNChicago.com. "I think that they're solid, very solid. All of them know their role, especially on the defensive end.

"They've got athletic guys where somebody's always contesting your shots, contesting the 3-point shooter's shots. They're playing very good defense right now."

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Rose has a point. The Heat held the Bulls to 75 points on 34 percent shooting in Game 2, and 85 points on 42 percent shooting in Game 3. They have been particularly tough on Rose, but he blames himself for not playing his game.

"At first, [I was] passing the ball, just trying to get things done, playing with a slower pace," said the NBA's Most Valuable Player. "But now I just got to find a way to get myself going, by pushing the ball, trying to get fast break points, driving, shooting floaters, things like that."

As Rose puts it, it's all about being aggressive, which he usually is. In Game 4, he essentially plans on getting back to being himself.

"I think I can be way more aggressive," said Rose.

If the Bulls are to stay alive in this series, he better be. As he goes, so go the Bulls. He's all but disappeared in the last two contests, and the Bulls are in a 2-1 hole as a result.

There is one thing working in Chicago's favor, and it's that the Bulls have yet to lose three games in a row this season. They were also 3-0 against the Heat during the regular season. So contrary to popular belief, this series is by no means lost quite yet.

If the Heat win Game 4, though, it will be hard to say that again while keeping a straight face.

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