In yesterday’s warmup game for the FIBA world championships, Team USA eked out an 86-85 win over Spain in Madrid. What a way to celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day…thanks Team USA!
I know. The final score isn’t very impressive considering the expectations for any squad named Team USA. But in all fairness, Spain — the defending world champs — suffered only their first loss in nine games. And Spain did have the whole home country advantage thing going for them.
From the perspective of a Bulls fan, the bigger story was the play of Derrick Rose. Mr. Skittles got the starting nod and came through with a big-time game. His stats weren’t other-worldly — 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks — and he struggled to hold onto the ball (5 turnovers). But as John Schuhmann of NBA.com wrote: “In the end, Derrick Rose won the game with his penetration, scoring his team’s final four points off high screen-and-rolls.”
Kevin Durant (25 points, 9-for-16, and two big blocks on Spain’s final possession) grabbed most of the glory, but Rose was the crunch-time scorer. According to Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “Rose gave the U.S. a 2-point lead with 39 seconds left with a left-handed drive into the lane and layup over Marc Gasol. After a 3-point play by one-time Memphis Grizzlies guard Juan Carlos Navarro put Spain up by 1, Rose rocketed down the right side of the lane and was fouled by Gasol. Rose’s 2 free throws with 19 seconds on the clock turned out to be the winning points.”
Here’s that layup over Gasol:
You have to figure that Rose’s willingness and ability to seize the moment on a team of proven NBA ballers — including a potential MVP-level player like Durant — is a good sign of things to come for the Bulls.
Said Rose: “This is something I will never forget, playing against great players, a veteran team that knew what they were doing out there. It was a great challenge, and we should take this and run with it.”
Regardin his clutch free throws, Rose said: “I’ve got to hit ’em. As your legacy goes on, this is something people are going to remember me for over here if they don’t ever see me play anymore.”
”As your legacy goes on, this is something people are going to remember me for over here if they don’t ever see me play anymore”
kind of sounds like when jordan said he plays his hardest because the people in the arena might never see him agian, kind of
D-ROSE AND DENG ARE BALLIN FOR THEIR TEAMS… THE BULLS WILL NO DOUT BE A TOP 3 TEAM IN THE EAST, MAYBE IN THE WHOLE NBA… EXCUSE ME FOR THAT BUT I GOT A TAD BIT EXCITED BUT ANYWAYS ABOUT THE GAME, JUST BY WATCHIN IT YOU CAN TELL THAT TEAM USA WAS HOLDING BACK… LETS NOT FORGET THE TEAMS BEST FLOOR GENERAL (RAJON RONDO) DIDNT EVEN PLAY… ALSO I DID LIKE WUT I SEEN FROM RUBIO ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE SLEEPIN ON HIM, HES NOT A REAL HIGH SCOOER BUT HE CAN PASS… IN SUMWAYS HES ALOT LIKE J-KIDD OR NASH…
People keep complaining that the Bulls didn’t do enough in the off season. Well, no one is factoring in the development of D. Rose. The USA basketball team went to him in clutch, and he came through. That should speak volumes to what we expect from him during the NBA season.
P.S. THE CHICAGO BULLS NEED TO TRADE FOR JR SMITH HE’S THE SG WE NEED… A PLUS 35 OR 40% 3pt SHOOTER EVERY SEASON AND HE CAN HANDLE THE ROCK… RUDY WILL BE A GOOD PIC UP FOR THE BULLS BUT JR SMITH WILL BE A GREAT PIC UP FOR THE BULLS… WE’LL HAVE THE BEST BACKCOURT AND A GREAT FRONTLINE WITH DENG, BOOZ, AND NOAH…
Him hitting clutch free throws is a great sign for sure. He missed too many of those the past 2 seasons so if he’s also improved in that area it’s hard not to drool at the upcoming season. I also agree about him taking over the game when it’s supposed to be Durant’s team is a fantastic sign. He seems to be developing that killer instinct and drive that the all-time great players have to have. Keep it up Rose!
It was kind of satisfying to see Fernandez get completely stymied by Durant. Show us what you can do with more minutes, Rudy! It looked like he belonged in the Euro league on that play …
This is yet just another reason why I know the bulls will be atop the east this year yes I said it atop the east, some players just are role players Rose is a superstar no need to talk about the future with him the future is now and his game is only getting better and to think this will be only his third year yet he is still so very young wow we finally got lucky here with Rose and he is from our home town also double bonus (right) these new bulls have something to prove and not just make it past the first round I think anything less than at to say the very least confrence finals is not a successful season yes some may say my expectations are high yet with the talent now on our current bulls they should be high look at what we did last year with the injuries and the lack of depth now we are healthy and we have more skilled players yes this is gonna be agreat year of many to come for the bulls I’m not gonna sell my team the bulls short Get R done bulls insomelight yr still babies but in other light you have grown now its time to shine bright on the courte Game time baby game time in Chi Town. Peace
I like seeing the continuation of Rose’s confidence, let’s not forget that Rose guaranteed that the Bulls would make the play-offs last year and then went on to lead them there, with the help of Noah’s fire.
To play and start for Coach K he must have improved his defense, and he would have to be a court general, a trait of most starting guards for Coach K. I am now convinced that we will see substantial improvement from D Rose this season.
The East and the league should be nervous. Months ago Rose was reported to be one of the players on the bubble as far as making the team. Now he is starting and taking charge at crunch time. It is obvious that Coach K still sees an upside for D Rose. If D Rose plays a major role in the US winning this tourney, look out NBA.
I wish we could have Coach K as our head coach. I just like everything I’ve heard and seen out of him and Rose. I absolutely love Thibs and of course I’m not serious, but think if one day K decides to try the move to the NBA…maybe Rose can be the attraction that brings him to the Bulls. Coach K in the NBA with the eventual superstar PG could win a hella lot of rings. Even better, keep Thibs as his top assistant haha.
All dreaming aside, I’m so glad Rose will be playing significant time these next few weeks. It’s purely selfish but I just love to see him and play and there’s no way I could handle the two months til season opens without this. I hope he continues to start and play aggresive to the hope like he did in the spain game. Liked seeing him take two euro threes. Maybe they’re not the same as NBA 3 but he hit one and the other looked a whole lot better than the ones from Iggy and Odom.
one love
I love it! Rondo who???? I would like to see Rose not lose the ball 5 time in a game, but I’ll take the last minute heroics, it going to be a very excitining Bulls season!
Rose showed what he can really do with the ball in his hands – I liked it. Just to be a bit critical, his defense on Rubio was not exciting. They eventually took him off of Rubio in the last few possessions of the game. I think Rondo will end up starting once tournament play begins, but Rose will still be cold-blooded. Rose and Rondo is an excellent change of gears, especially for international play. The best thing I have seen of Rose is his shooting touch is much better – This guy will be deadly with a healthy team around him.
This is D’Rose versus the world speaking of Rose playing for the FIBA,forget spain,is that even a country?????I remember it was once Jordan versus the world when Jordan played for the 1992 Dream Team in barcelona. GO BULLS!!!!!
Rondo pulled out…Get em Rose!
Isnt it funny Rondo pulled out after he knew that he basically was the odd man out. If he had all this personal business to take care of before the season, which is now about a month away, why did he spend a whole month trying out for the team. He just couldnt take being cut and knowing Rose is the better player. He should of went out with dignity and accepted that he just wasn’t good enough then go and work on his jump shot. That is the one thing that is stopping him from being a complete player. He needs to work like D-Rose did. That is the difference between him and Rose. Rose is a hard worker and relentless when it comes to trying to be the best. He works on his game none stop.
When Rose came into the league he was basically like Rondo but the last couple years he has worked and elevated his game much past Rondo. No one should ever compare Rondo to Rose or put him on his level until he works on his shooting. Did anyone see him play? It was very evident that he was not as good without his celtic big 3.
Yeah suck on that Rondo lovers. Rondo is a product of Boston’s System, which created those triple doubles for him in the playoffs. ANy PG in the NBA would get over 10 APG if they had Ray ALlen and Paul Peirce to catch the ball off screens and shoot them in for sure makes, and KG posting up. ANyone can get to the basket easier when the whole Defense focuses on “Where’s Ray ALlen, Peirce, and KG”. The Rebounds are more coaching and on offense the PG is always back to protect from fast break so while the others box their man out, ROndo was able to snatch those REB. How would ROndo do with last season’s Bulls? 25 wins at best. Rose on the Celtics would have won 65 games in 09-10 and for sure finished off the Lakers.
Stop the Rose-ROndo comparisons. ROse is WAY BETTER. ROse is on his way to being a top 5 player in this league. Rondo is just a very good role player and thats it.
Yeah suck on that Rondo lovers. Rondo is a product of Boston’s System, which created those triple doubles for him in the playoffs. ANy PG in the NBA would get over 10 APG if they had Ray ALlen and Paul Peirce to catch the ball off screens and shoot them in for sure makes, and KG posting up. ANyone can get to the basket easier when the whole Defense focuses on “Where’s Ray ALlen, Peirce, and KG”. The Rebounds are more coaching and on offense the PG is always back to protect from fast break so while the others box their man out, ROndo was able to snatch those REB. How would ROndo do with last season’s Bulls? 25 wins at best. Rose on the Celtics would have won 65 games in 09-10 and for sure finished off the Lakers.
Stop the Rose-ROndo comparisons. ROse is WAY BETTER. ROse is on his way to being a top 5 player in this league. Rondo is just a very good role player and thats it.
Another thing to add to hardtimes comment, Rondo was too small, weak and he could not score at will. The only thing he had working for him was his defense.
Players like: Rose, Billups, Westbrook, Curry and Gordan all of them are bigger, stronger, they can score at will and play defense. That why they made the cut.
Sorry Rondo you not better Rose!
Thus it has begun the crowning of a new era where we no longer need to live in the Jordan moments although we shall forever love him and what he gave us while being the man on Our chicago bulls But now with faith and a new direction our new Bulls are on the rise and thus with D RoSe leading them this will be another great Journey but not like the Jordan/Pip era it will be of RoSe/Boozer/Noah Deng Gibson Brewer KoorVer now is the time we hear in Chicago can speak loudly again and teams in the league will regret playing us I know our team is on the rise to power and greatness of its own and RoSe is leading us all the way he is a beast True Baller From chicago and we shall all get the chance to witness his greatness now Get Ready for what you have seen him do I think is only the beginning of many great plays and wins and yes championships to come while he is a player in this league he shall retire a bull for life or else there will be a big opening for new owner or personel. Peace
Trade for JR Smith? I think they should signed Jamaal Tatum. He does a lot of the things JR Smith does, and some things better. And he can play the 1 and the 2.
Who the heck is Jamaal Tatum?