If Bulls win title, everyone forgets about Derrick Rose drama

Over the past couple of years, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly as a loyal Chicago Bulls fan. Let’s be honest, three years ago most Bulls fans were excited beyond belief. They had every right to be confident. Tom Thibodeau had led them to the best record in the NBA and the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, and they looked like a team that could potentially knock off the Miami Heat. Boasting the youngest MVP in the history of the league, Chicago was led by arguably the best point guard in the game at the time, none other than Derrick Rose.

Then, it all went downhill. Rose was hurt, and spent the entire season on the sideline. A year later, he was hurt yet again — and sat out another season. There were some awful times during those two years. I recall being blown out by the Sacramento Kings in March of 2013, by a score of 121 to 79. During the 2012-2013 season, the Kings were amongst the league’s bottom feeders. After that game, I was the most angry I had been at this team in quite a while. It was just pure, unadulterated, ugly basketball.

Bulls fans’ emotions have been toyed with more than any other team in the league over the last three seasons. Whether it’s the status of Rose, the trade of long-time fan favorite Luol Deng, or even the former All Star Carlos Boozer wandering around the court wondering how on earth defense is played in the NBA. It’s been quite the ride; a puzzling ride, indeed.

Through it all, though, the one topic we could not avoid was the topic of Rose’s health. Will he ever play again? Will he return to the same old Derrick? Is his family influencing his decision not to return? Has he lost his passion and confidence? Better yet, is that why he was cleared to return a month before the playoffs a year ago, but still remained M.I.A.?

There were a plethora of folks that had given up on Rose; plenty of hatred toward the young guard. From fans accusing him of giving up on his team to the media wondering if we had seen the last of him, the world sure had differing opinions on Rose. But, entering the 2014-2015 season, this will change — or will it?

Gar Forman and John Paxson went out and grabbed one of their top free agent targets in All Star power forward Pau Gasol, and finally let go of Boozer. They had, in my opinion, a phenomenal draft when they traded up to get high-scoring swingman Doug McDermott. To top it off, Nikola Mirotic joined the team for what will be his rookie year, alas. The ’14-’15 roster is one that should not only excite Rose, but fans as well.

With the additions made by the organization, Rose can confidently come back and play his game the way he wants to play it; only this time, there will be a lot less pressure. Both Gasol and Joakim Noah will do wonders in helping facilitate the offense. The Bulls also have a shooter in McDermott to pair with Mike Dunleavy Jr. on the wings. With one of the top defensive forwards in the game, Taj Gibson, paired with a well-rounded Mirotic, Chicago is deep down low. Let’s not forget one of the premier perimeter defenders in all of basketball, Jimmy Butler.

The pieces Chicago has going into this season are by far the best they’ve had in three years. But, the one piece gluing the entire team together that they’ve been missing — Rose — is the key. How will fans react this year based on how the season ends up? My bet is that, if Chicago makes the playoffs, most fans won’t bat an eye. That’s expected at this point.

To truly silence many of the negative fans and critics in the media, the Bulls are going to have to do much more than just make the postseason in a miserable Eastern Conference. Remember, they have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals recently. But, they haven’t had enough to get past that point. Just like in 2011, the assumption is that they will have to contend with LeBron James — only, this year, it will be the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of Miami.

Only a championship will win over the fans. Only a championship will make up for all of the torture over the past couple of years. Only a championship will silence the critics and wash away the cloud of negativity surrounding Rose’s two paths to recovery. Rose has never lacked the confidence. The only confidence he has lacked, is from the outside. His heart has been in question. His intentions have been in question. His toughness has been in question.

The only question I have now, is, will a title make up for all of the heartache? Bulls fans, the time is now.

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