Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose in Need of Help to Keep Team Afloat
With the Chicago Bulls falling on the road to the Atlanta Hawks 100-88 on Sunday night, Derrick Rose and the Bulls are now knotted up with the Hawks in the best-of-seven game series 2-2.
Throughout the series, Derrick Rose has put up exceptional numbers. Averaging 31 points, nine assists and five rebounds per game in the four games, Rose has elevated his game yet another notch this post season.
The lack of a reliable wing-man to carry some of the offensive load has forced Rose to put up an astonishing amount of shots per game. Through the four games so far against the Hawks, Rose has averaged 28 shots per game, hitting just 43 percent of those shots.
With more than capable teammates surrounding Rose, one might think at least one of his fellow Bulls would step up in each game. This has not been the case.
Getting decent efforts from Luol Deng and Kyle Korver got the Chicago Bulls past the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Deng put up 21 points in Game 1 against the Hawks, but has been a non-factor since then, shooting just 37.8 percent form the field in games 2, 3 and 4.
Korver, who was crucial in the Pacers series, has put up a dismal 30 percent field goal percentage, averaging just seven points per game against the Hawks. One good thing about Korver is he won't pass up an open shot even though he is slumping—which is the best way to get out of a slump for a shooter.
With Bulls forward Carlos Boozer's toe injury affecting his game, Rose has not been able to depend on him down low in the playoffs. The Hawks have been able to send double and triple-team efforts at Rose, because the big man guarding Boozer does not have as much about him being a scoring threat as he was in the regular season.
Boozer is averaging about 12 points per game against the Hawks, down from his season average of about 18 points per game. If Boozer gets his numbers up to pre-toe injury form, Rose will not have to deal with as many double-team defense against him, allowing the point guard to get better shots off and creating more opportunities for his teammates around him.
The United Center will be rocking on Tuesday night, and that fan support could be the key factor in getting one of Rose's teammates on his level offensively. Getting any help at all will give the Bulls that much more of a chance to grab a 3-2 series lead and move the Bulls that much closer to the Eastern Conference Finals.
