To most viewers watching the Bulls and HEAT the last two weeks, Derrick Rose is now without question the league’s MVP. The Bulls are now 6-2 since the All-Star break with no sight of slowing down. The Bulls have now moved two full games ahead of the HEAT for second place in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose’s sound leadership and decisions have brought the Bulls to their best record in over a decade.
Even though he doesn’t have quite the stats that Lebron has, Rose knows what to do to help his team win. Whether it’s making a great pass or going into the lane for an amazing drive, Rose can do it all. He is eighth in the league in scoring, and tenth in assists. He often responded to his coach’s challenges and led the Bulls while Noah sat out two months with an injury.
After the HEAT’s loss to the Blazers tonight Lebron’s chances to win the award have only decreased. Even though he had another great game, his 31points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists weren’t enough to lead the HEAT to victory. Lebron has won the award the last two seasons when his team had the best record in the NBA, or at least the best record in the East. With the HEAT’s latest struggles combined with their upcoming schedule they will likely finish in fourth place. This late season collapse should certainly remove James from the conversation.
The only other person who really has a shot at the MVP trophy besides Rose and James is Howard. He is once again dominating everyone in the paint and proving to the NBA that he is the best center in this league. However, his teammates are light years behind him. Nelson is the only one who is clutch and who can play at an elite level.
Expect even more great games from Rose for the remainder of the season. Out of the Bulls final twenty games only 7 of those games are against playoff teams. They have already cleared the hardest part of their schedule by playing the last six out of eight games on the road. They are only 2 ½ games out of the top spot in the East. They currently have a 27-4 record at home and look to gain home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The last time the Bulls had home court throughout the playoffs was in 1998, the last time they won a championship.
At only twenty-two years old he is already carrying a team on his shoulders. If he wins the MVP this season, it will be one of many he will win throughout his career. He remains fearless of any player which stands between him and the basket. So far the Bulls have had several exciting playoff series with the Cavs and Celtics in years past. Even though they lost to the Cavs in six games last year, it was the Bulls determination and grit to make the playoffs at the end of the regular season which stood out to me. In the Celtics series two years ago, Rose and the Bulls pushed the champs to seven games. These experiences have helped mold Rose into the point guard that he is today. Watch out NBA because Derrick Rose will only get better with every season that passes.
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