Chicago Bulls: NBA MVP Derrick Rose Shooting Just 38 Percent in the Playoffs

Before you label me a "Rose-hater," "LeBron-lover" or anything else of that nature, read my previous article on the MVP race and please reconsider.

I believe Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Dwight Howard all had legitimate reasons for being the league MVP, it just depended on which school of thought that voters were more inclined to side with.

It's all academic now, regardless. Derrick Rose is the 2010-11 NBA MVP.

Not that he's playing like it.

All of a sudden, it's a little harder to get in the lane, there's a lot more attention being paid to his jump shot and fast break points are rare.

Last night, Rose went 10 of 27 from the field—the sixth time in seven games that the Bulls star has shot below his regular season .445 average.

In fact, Rose's best shooting display so far this postseason is only an eight of 17 effort against the Pacers in Game 5.

In order to turn it around, Rose needs to get back to the line.

He shot 49 free throws through the first three games of the postseason, but has been back only 17 times in the four games since.

Time to put that three-point jumper away, too.

You can't argue with the numbers. Rose is just 11 of 52 from downtown and that won't cut it in any offense.

A number of LeBron fans who are feeling hard done by with the MVP decision are starting to make some noise.

Apart from a blocked layup that would have sealed the Heat's sweep against the 76ers, James has been almost faultless this postseason.

His regular-season game has, to date, made a smooth transition to playoff basketball.

However, this isn't to say that Derrick Rose isn't capable of doing the same.

That being said, it's about time the Bulls star put the blowtorch on these playoffs and reminded everyone why he was voted the league's most valuable player in the first place.