2011 Playoffs: Derrick Rose Is the Reason Chicago Will Lose to the Heat

Being a three-trick pony is certainly difficult, especially in a sport like basketball. 

The Miami Heat, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, began the season as villains. The expectations were almost unanimous, aside from Miami fans and a few media outlets.

No one believed the Heat were a serious threat to another title run from the Boston Celtics.

The two teams met in the second round of the playoffs, and the Celtics were cast aside like extras in a movie starring the Heatles.

Now, this season’s darling franchise, the Chicago Bulls, will take on this season's most hated franchise, the Miami Heat.

The tension is growing, and many fans, especially in Cleveland, are praying Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls will take care of the Heat in a quick and embarrassing manner. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on whose side you're on), these prayers will fall short.

There's one thing worse then being a three-trick pony, and that’s being a one-trick pony. The reason the Bulls have the best record, the first seed, home court advantage, are in the conference finals and have the coach of the year, is the same reason they will lose to Miami: their MVP. 

Derrick Rose is a remarkable talent, but basketball is not a one-man sport, and that becomes all the more important during the playoffs. 

While Rose certainly has the capacity to take over a game, Miami has three players who can put up 30 and 10 on any given night. With one of the best closers (Dwyane Wade), and one of the best scorer/defenders (LeBron James) in the game, the Heat have two trump cards to Chicago’s one.

It’s no secret the Bulls will need to make this series a knock-down, drag-out affair to stand a chance. Miami’s defense is as good as any other team in the league's, and James and Wade combining for 3.1 steals per game does not bode well for Rose.

So far in the playoffs, Rose has dished out 89 assists at an average of 8.1 per game, but he also has 40 turnovers, coming in at 3.6 a game. That works out to a 2.01:1 assist to turnover ratio. As a point guard, Rose is far too talented to put up these type of numbers.

The lack of a second scoring option and the inconsistency on offense from the rest of the Bulls is forcing Rose to struggle as a playmaker. When Rose has to force the issue he becomes more of a scoring point guard than a facilitator. 

A shoot-first mentality in a point guard will always lead to a high turnover rate, and the numbers reflect that. Don't expect this to change anytime soon.

Miami in five….