Derrick Rose: 10 Ways to Elevate Game to Take Mantle of Best Point Guard in NBA
Another game, another show-stopping performance by Derrick Rose.
The Chicago native has been nothing short of outstanding, and shows no signs of stopping. As one of the favorites to win the league's MVP trophy, Rose has also put himself, at worst, in the conversation for best point guard in the the NBA.
Despite being the All-Star player that he is, Rose still needs to do a few things to lock up the number one spot.
1. Stay Healthy
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Dwight Howard knows best how to stop D-Rose: pound him.
In two of the more recent match-ups against Chicago, Howard and the Orlando Magic have adopted the hack-a-Shaq method with Rose when he drives to the rim.
Even with Rose's ability to muscle up shots, he was no match for Howard's pure strength.
Rose may own the paint better than any point in the game, but one too many hits could lead to a serious injury, taking him out of the "best" conversation, albeit temporarily.
2. Beat the Best at Your Position
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Derrick and Chicago have beaten New Orleans, Utah and Phoenix. All have, or had one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash could not lead their teams to victory against Rose, and individually could not outperform him, either.
3. Play Like Stacey King
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What?
If you are not from the greater Chicago area, you may not know of Bulls analyst and former player Stacey King. His analysis outperforms his career, to say the least.
King also has some pretty sweet one-liners, including one that continues to hold true about Chicago's No. 1.
"Too big, too strong, too fast, too good."
You can hear a lot more of his uproarious calls here.
4. Be the Best Every Night
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Rose seems to be the best player on the court in every game he plays. This has held true even against big stars in big games.
A recent testament to that was a recent game against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Not only did Rose out-duel them both, but he hit the big shots late in the game. James, on the other hand, missed a game winner by hitting nothing but backboard.
5. Be Yourself
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Playing in a big market, with big hopes, needs a player with a big ego, right?
Nah...
Rose is nothing but the opposite, which has helped shed any comparisons to the last great Chicago Bull, Michael Jordan.
A calm demeanor, selfless attitude and less than lavish lifestyle have kept Rose's game trending upward.
Being more of a shut-in has been an awkward attachment to a Chicago star, but one that no Bulls fan will complain about in this case.
6. Individual Hardware Never Hurts
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Success comes in different forms for players. Individual and team success come with perks, including goofy-sized trophies.
Rose has already won Rookie of the Year, and a FIBA gold. It appears an MVP, NBA Championship and an Olympic medal could be in his future.
Be the best and be considered the best by your peers and voters, and being on top is a lock.
7. Team Hardware Is Even Better
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Winning it all would be the automatic lock, especially when you consider Rose's role with Chicago.
8. Numbers Do Not Lie
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Derrick is the only player in the top 10 in scoring (24.8 points per game) and assists (8.1 per game).
Rose has also become a much better shooter from 3-point range, which added a new depth to his game. Adding 1.5 3's a game makes the numbers and progress from previous seasons look like nothing.
If the numbers stay where they are, the top spot is that much closer.
9. Lead
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Rose is the unquestioned leader of the Bulls.
As long as he continues to exude his silent confidence and win, it will be tough not to consider him the best. It has not been too trendy to win it all through the point position in recent NBA history.
A reason for this has to be that no point guard has been the dominant player. It has usually come from a more common scoring position like the shooting guard of small forward.
10. Take Your Game Up a Notch
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It is almost unfathomable to think that Derrick Rose could take his game to even higher levels of greatness, but if there is another level, he has to achieve it.
The best players in the game do amazing things that no one expects. Jordan's flu game, Reggie Miller's point barrage against the Knicks, and so on. Rose has to be able to do that when the lights shine brightest.
Based on his play this year, it does not seem unfathomable.
