Is Rose Ready to Step Up into the NBA Elite?

Chicago Bulls' guard Derrick Rose did not disappoint in his rookie season but now, after losing Ben Gordon to the Pistons, the Bulls will be expecting Rose to be their go to guy on offense.

In his rookie season Derrick Rose scored 16.8 PPG, while dishing out 6.3 APG. This year I predict that Rose will score anywhere from 20-25 PPG and 7.5-10 APG. The main reason for this spike in numbers, along with the fact that he has a year of experience, is the loss of Ben Gordon. With Gordon out of the picture Rose will definitely be taking more shots and as a result will get to the line more often. It has been well documented this offseason that Rose is working on his jumpshot and extending his range to the three point line, which makes him that much more dangerous to other teams.

Many (including me) envision that Rose will step up into the NBA's Mt. Olympus of point guards sometime in the next 1-2 seasons, this is the elite group which includes Chris Paul, Deron Willaims, Tony Parker, and Chauncey Billups. But the question that everyone wants to know is when, when will Rose step up and make the Bulls a dangerous team again. What Rose has to work on the most if he wants that to happen is his assist to turnover ratio. In the playoffs every possession is important, he can't be turning the ball over 5 times a game like he did in last season's first round bout with the Celtics. 

Ask yourself this question, if you were the Bulls and you could trade Rose for any other point guard in the league who would it be, Chis Paul immediately comes to mind but consider this: Rose is a Chicago native and he would be more likely (than Paul) to express loyalty to the Bulls when his contract is up. I wouldn't trade him for anybody, the Chicago Bulls have a real gem in Rose, I strongly believe that Rose is going to be a top 1-2 point guard in the league by the time this season ends, whenever it ends. Rose's ability to score makes him so much more dangerous because teams are going to be forced to double team him which will give the green light to Hinrich, Deng, and Salmons to knock down some shots. 

Derrick Rose is a young player with the sky as his limit, don't be surprised to see Rose in the MVP voting at the end of the season. He is ready to take the NBA by storm.

Biggest Rivalries Heading into the 2009-2010 Season

Here are the biggest rivalries with bad blood between them heading into next season.

 

1. Bulls vs. Celtics

After the classic seven game series in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs the Bulls and Celtics are undoubtedly the two teams with the most bad blood between them. Rajon Rondo will be booed for the rest of his career in the United Center and likewise for Kirk Hinrich in the TD Banknorth Garden. By game 5 during their epic series a flagrant foul had become a normality, that's when you know that these two teams are hot for each other. There are emotional players on each side, KG for the Celtics and Joakim Noah for the Bulls. And don't think that Brad Miller has forgotten about Rondo's bitch slap in game 5. Don't be surprised to see Rajon hitting the floor hard at the hands of Brad Miller.

 

2. Celtics vs. Lakers

The Celtics and Lakers have been bitter rivals going all the way back to the Russell\Chamberlain era. The players have changed but the rivalry has remained the same. It is my personal opinion along with many others that if the Celtics didn't lose KG to injury they would have repeated as NBA champions. Going into the season the Celtics are going to be eager to show that they are still the powerhouse of the Eastern Conference. And God knows they have re-loaded themselves with talent, adding Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels to go along with their already star studded lineup. Assuming that there are no injuries to major players on either teams it is my prediction that they will meet in the championship again and once again the Celtics will come out victorious. A major reason for this is because right now KG is like a land mine ready to explode, he had to watch his team get knocked out in the second round of the playoffs while he could do nothing. Expect Kevin to enter this season hungrier than ever and hitting his head even harder off the Basket support before games. 

 

3. Nuggets vs. Hornets

After the New Orleans Hornets got trounced by 58 points on their home floor I expect them to come into this season eager to show that they are a contender. Once Denver makes their first trip to New Orleans I expect a very physical and emotional game on the Hornets part. If they don't have any different attitude towards Denver then they have no soul and don't deserve to even take the floor. 

 

4. Detroit vs. Cleveland

This rivalry won't attract as much attention as the others but I still believe that there is a strong motivation in the Pistons' mind to disassemble the Cavs this season. Detroit has added the very dangerous and streaky scorer Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. For the whole decade the Pistons have been at the top of the Eastern Conference and for 8 seasons in a row they were in the Conference Finals. Detroit is going to be looking to enter into the Eastern Conference hierarchy, which consists of the Celtics, Magic, and Cavs. 

 

I love bad blood between teams, it makes for a more interesting and emotional game. And at the same time, the level of competition is unquestionably raised. I look forward to seeing these rivalries develop this season.