Derrick Rose for NBA MVP: Will the Chicago Bulls Star Win It?
We haven't even hit the All-Star break for the NBA season, yet we already have one of the closest MVP races in recent history. Guys like Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Amar'e Stoudamire, and Kevin Durant are being considered MVP candidates, but is it Derrick Rose who is going to win MVP?
Some say "Yes" and some say "No". He deserves, at least up to this point, to be the front-runner for MVP.
But.....lets look into why.
"My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength." - Michael Jordan
Derrick Has Made Others Rise Up To The Occasion
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When Carlos Boozer came to Chicago, he said, " It will be a nice transition going from Deron Williams to Derrick Rose". He saw something special, that people still don't understand.
He saw that "Poohdini" was capable of making the players around him better, more than he had already. This year, he is averaging 8.1 assists per game; compared to his previous averages of 6.3 and 6.0. As good as he is as a playmaker when scoring the ball, he is turning into an even better playmaker without the ball.
A perfect example of this is when Kurt Thomas scored 22 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. Derrick was 5-16 from the field, but had 10 assists. His ability to drive in the lane when his shot isn't going in, allows him to dish to open teammates, like Kurt Thomas.
Bottom line is, if he isn't making you double team because his shot is falling, then he is making you double him in the lane and he then has the ability to find the open man for the easy bucket.
He is not in the system to average 12 assists a game like Rajon Rondo, but do we hear Rondo in the MVP picture anymore....no.
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." - Michael Jordan
Rose Leads The Bulls to Victory With His Heart and Will To Win
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Every Bulls fan, remembers when Michael Jordan had the "Flu Game", when he dropped 38 points on the Utah Jazz. Now "Bulls Nation" has something else to remember, Derrick Rose playing through two stomach ulcers.
Now by no means does Rose's performances live up to the "Flu Game", but it is still impressive to see such a young man, will himself to play as hard as he can with the ulcers, and also have that will help the Bulls as a team to victory on several occasions.
On October 30th, the Bulls had a game against the Detroit Pistons. They trailed by 21 points early in the third quarter and the score was 86-73 with about three minutes left in the game. They went on a 19-2 run, with Rose scoring 8 points in the final period. It was a game, that they shouldn't have won, but Rose willed himself and his teammates to victory.
On November 24th, Rose and the Bulls rallied from a 23-point, second quarter deficit against the Phoenix Suns, but Rose, who had 35 points and 12 assists, was the catalyst for the rally and eventual win.
When he isn't beating you with his offense; he is beating you with his sheer will to win.
“A winner is someone who recognizes his God- given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” - Larry Bird
Poohdini Has Played The Most Games Without His Two Best Players
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Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer have missed a combined 39 games and the Bulls still have the 4th best record in the NBA and 3rd best in the East. They are only 3.5 games out of first place in the East also.
Out of 46 games that Rose has played, Boozer has played only 29 games with him and Noah has played 23.
Derrick has had to carry this team for most of the season without his second and third best player. Nobody in the NBA can say that and to carry your team to the 4th best record in the league is quite admirable.
And very MVP-like.
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” - Michael Jordan
The Hometown Hero Is Also The Most Improved Player...to Go Along With MVP
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If you look at Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Amar'e Stoudamire, they all are playing at their career average for points, assists, rebounds, etc.
Derrick Rose on the other hand is having his best season in his 3rd year in the NBA.
His averages are up from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011: 20.8 to 24.4 PPG, 6.0 to 8.1 APG, 3.7 to 4.6 RPG, 0.3 to 0.7 BPG, and 0.7 to 1.0 SPG.
He is also shooting from behind the arc at a career rate: .374%. That is all the way up from his career average of .24%.
Every year, he says he will improve on something and he has lived up to that. He mentioned at the beginning of the year, that he wants to be considered for MVP.
He has lived up to everything he has said, so who is to doubt his he will win MVP?
No one.
"I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come." - Michael Jordan
Bottom Line: Derrick Has Rose Above The Rest and Is The MVP of The NBA
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With his ability to make others better, make himself better, and his ability to find ways to help his team win, he will win the MVP this year.
He has hit the big shots this year, has had the big games and has left us with the highlights to remember forever.
Sound familiar Bulls fans?
No one else could carry this team the way Rose has; not even Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, or Amar'e.
If I or anyone for that matter, could describe "D Rose" in one word it would be.....
MVP.
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