Does Rose really care about defense?

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I wonder because I've never seen him bother his opponent's dribble. In fact, I don't think I can remember seeing him try. He says that he learned a lot of defensive tricks by watching Hinrich in training camp, but how can he not see that Kurt uses his hands (in addition to his feet) to steer his man in one direction or another? Rose doesn't even threaten to take the ball away, and I'm sick of watching the man he's guarding get more confident as the game goes along.

Obviously, impact man-on defense is a skill acquired with time, and young players are by and large bad at it, but most do try, and in so doing they pick up the kinds of annoying chippy fouls that they eventually learn to avoid. I don't see any of that out of Rose. No attempt to feel out what he can and can't get away with, no aggressiveness whatsoever. He only fouled out 1 time in the regular season last year, picked up a fifth foul twice and averaged 1.5 fouls/gm. That's unbelievable to me. I get that he was important to our offense and might have been asked to be be risk averse on D, but I can't see Vinny telling Rose to let his arms flap at his sides like party streamers, allow his man go wherever he wants and then meet him there sooner rather than later.

So I gotta ask, are we sure that Rose cares about defense? B/c if he does, he's got to be truly, truly dense to think that he can effectively guard his man without being more aggressive. Rose is a competitor and isn't afraid to work, and so we all assume that he's just "clueless" on defense (there's plenty of evidence of that, too), but I think I'm done assuming that he's trying to becoming a good defender until I see him make mistakes that err on the side of overcommitment.

[gabroo23]

I understand the frustration that us Bulls fan are going through regarding Rose defense. He has been horrible defensively but I honestly believe he will learn it. It took a lot of players so long to learn defense. Lebron James just got good at defense last year. I think as a young player that is the last thing you learn. Rose's goal should be to say in front of his man this season.

I think he is too talented and hard working not to be a good defensive player. This season I have noticed though he is blocking more shots and gambling little bit just like Chris Paul. IMHO I think it will take another season or two to see his defensive talent come out.

[transplant]

American fans have often wondered why baseball players from the Dominican Republic tend not to be very selective at the plate. Their response is consistent - "You can't walk off the island."

Similarly, in basketball, defense doesn't get you noticed in high school.

By all accounts, Rose wants to be a great player. He seems to realize that, in the NBA, this requires at least competence on the defensive end. From what I've seen this season, he's better...not good, but better. In particular, he's working to avoid taking himself out of the defense (leaving essentially a 4 on 5) which he often did last season.

So yeah, I think he cares...at least some.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

He's playing the pick and roll much better than he did last year - although it helps that our bigs are at least making an effort this season.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

I understand the frustration that us Bulls fan are going through regarding Rose defense. He has been horrible defensively but I honestly believe he will learn it. It took a lot of players so long to learn defense. Lebron James just got good at defense last year. I think as a young player that is the last thing you learn. Rose's goal should be to say in front of his man this season.

I don't think you can stay in front of your man when you go about it the way that Rose does. When you keep your hands high and try to do it all with your feet, your man is gonna go right around you more often than not.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

He's playing the pick and roll much better than he did last year - although it helps that our bigs are at least making an effort this season.

I'll have to rewatch a couple of the games, but it looks to me like the pick & roll schemes place more onus on the bigs this year. Rose does look better to me, but honestly, was there anywhere to go but up?

Anyway, I want to be clear that I'm not talking about Rose's skill as a defender, exactly. I'm talking about effort and focus. To me, he doesn't look like he tries to make an impact on that end of the floor, and while the impact may come later in his career, I don't see why the trying can't start from Day 1.

[suckfish]

Stealing the ball is the least of my worries. Good defence is staying between your man and the basket, steering him to the sidelines or wherever the teams defensive scheme dictates, and forcing low percentage shots. You regain possession by rebounding off those misses. Stealing the ball is nice and all, but how many times do you see point guards lose the ball when dribbling at this level? If they do, it's normally because of gambling defence (which we don't want Rose to get into), self unforced error, or tough dribble drives which are forced because of good honest individual and help defence.

I'm not saying Rose shouldn't use his arms more, as all good defenders use their hands and arms to move quicker, to swim around screens, and to alter shots and to strip opponents. All I am saying, is don't be too concerned with Rose stealing the ball.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

All I am saying, is don't be too concerned with Rose stealing the ball.

I'm not. I'm concerned that Rose's stance on D makes it plainly obvious that he's in no way a threat to take the ball away, which emboldens the man he's guarding. Bother the dribble, is all I ask. That's part of staying in front of your man.

[The Force.]

Maybe we should wait a few games before jumping to conclusions. Considering Derrick has played horribly on both ends, I don't think it's fair to make any rushed assumptions about his commitment to defense.

Oh wait, this is Realgm. Nevermind.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Maybe we should wait a few games before jumping to conclusions. Considering Derrick has played horribly on both ends, I don't think it's fair to make any rushed assumptions about his commitment to defense.

Oh wait, this is Realgm. Nevermind.

I'm not jumping to a conclusion, I'm questioning one, which is that Rose really, really cares about all aspects of the game but hasn't managed to figure out defense yet.

[The Force.]

Maybe we should wait a few games before jumping to conclusions. Considering Derrick has played horribly on both ends, I don't think it's fair to make any rushed assumptions about his commitment to defense.

Oh wait, this is Realgm. Nevermind.

I'm not jumping to a conclusion, I'm questioning one, which is that Rose really, really cares about all aspects of the game but hasn't managed to figure out defense yet.

And you feel you have an accurate platform (this season) in which to validate your question?

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Maybe we should wait a few games before jumping to conclusions. Considering Derrick has played horribly on both ends, I don't think it's fair to make any rushed assumptions about his commitment to defense.

Oh wait, this is Realgm. Nevermind.

I'm not jumping to a conclusion, I'm questioning one, which is that Rose really, really cares about all aspects of the game but hasn't managed to figure out defense yet.

And you feel you have an accurate platform (this season) in which to validate your question?

Yes. It's a question I could have asked last year, and I haven't seen much this season that would "invalidate" it.

[DASMACKDOWN]

I actually think he is playing defense TONS better than last year.

Rose would look totally lost not even knowing where a player would go.

And with a screen forget about it.

The only game he looks bad in was last game but obviously his ankle aint right now that may have been a factor.

But I would bet that overall his defense will be greatly improved. Like Gordon's from his first year to second.

[dougthonus]

I share your fears with Rose on the defensive end, but he does look more fundamentally sound this season, so he's making some progress. Especially since he's still playing through an injury I'll take some progress out of him on the defensive end compared to the god awfulness which has been Rose on the offensive end so far.

I do think the question has validity, but given that you can see some improvements defensively, and offensively he's gotten a hell of a lot worse, it's not my focus right now. My focus is on how long it will take for him to get healthy.

[anorexorcism]

^^Doug can I just say how good it was to hear the Bulls Beat after so long. I wish you could make more but I understand your situation. I am listening to it right now in fact.