Derrick Rose is undoubtedly enjoying being able to play basketball again after missing games with a variety of injuries, but he has suffered some predictable struggles in adjusting to the court again. The former MVP has been mired in a shooting slump lately, and some are wondering how it will affect his game.
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Rose never really loses faith in himself, however, and he has no plans to change the way he plays just because he has hit a rough patch regarding his shooting accuracy. According to the Chicago Tribune, Rose has hit just seven of 35 shots over the last two games, and he is shooting a career-worst 26.3 percent from three-point range for the season.
"My confidence to shoot is there," said Rose. "All of them were on target. They're just not falling. I'm not going to stop shooting. If they go under (screens), I'm going to shoot the shot. I work on it enough. I just haven't seen them go in yet."
"I can shoot good enough to make them play honest," he continued. "I just haven't seen it these last couple games."
Rose is taking three pointers at the highest rate of his career, averaging more than five attempts per game. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau does not have a problem with Rose's shot selection, and he defended his point guard's shooting.
"If the defense is collapsing and the play is made, and it's the right shot, I'm going to encourage him to take it," said Thibodeau. "The 3-pointer is an important part of our game. That's what opens it up inside. That's what puts pressure on the defense, gives Jimmy (Butler) room to operate in the post, gives Pau (Gasol) room to operate. So you need that balance."
Thibodeau did admit that he thinks the team - including Rose - needs to attack more to generate more easy baskets.
For his part, Rose understands that he is a focal point of the offense, and he plans to continue to play his way.
"There's only one way to get out - keep shooting," he said. "My teammates have a lot of confidence in me when I shoot. That's why I kept shooting. We were looking for someone to take a charge and it didn't happen.
"But that's what living is all about. You live and you learn. I know I'm going to have worse nights than this. But I just have to learn from it, stay consistent with my workouts and find ways to try to affect the game when there are nights like this."
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