Bulls’ Derrick Rose is starting to make a comeback

Despite the Chicago Bulls’ struggles, Derrick Rose says he feels like he’s back, and that’s clearly the case as he’s starting to find better form and consistency.

2010-11 NBA MVP Derrick Rose is nothing more than a distant memory now. Injuries have attacked his remarkable athleticism, and after being the only point guard who could rival the ferocious explosiveness of Russell Westbrook, Rose now continues his career with a disappointing Chicago Bulls team as a lesser version of his former self.

It’s such a shame that he isn’t the 25-point, 7.7-assist, 44.5 percent shooting MVP of five years ago, but that doesn’t mean Rose is finished. In fact, that’s far from the truth, even if he’ll never be the player he once was. He can still have a successful career if he can just manage to stay healthy, and he’s been making some major strides in the right direction recently.

ESPN’s Nick Friedell has reported some of Rose’s comments, and he clearly feels far more comfortable with his performance:

"“I just feel like I’m back,” Rose said.“I’m just out there playing. Whatever I can do to get my team a victory that’s what I’m going to try to do. When I’m out there they’re giving me midrange [shots], they’re giving me drives to the lane. Just mixing up my game and trying to play a solid game while I’m out there.”"

He spoke after the Bulls’ high-scoring 126-115 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, a game in which Rose dropped 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while making 8-of-15 shots and only turning the ball over twice.

That’s the kind of play Bulls fans were used to, albeit throughout a season rather than just one night. Although, that’s just the point about Rose lately; he’s actually maintained consistency.

Partly, as he Rose said himself, it’s because he’s playing differently on offense than how he did when he was a relentless 22-year-old:

"“There’s always room for improvement,” Rose said. “I don’t know how good I can become. Nobody knows. … I think it’s an unknown ceiling. The way that I’m playing right now, the shots that I’m taking I didn’t take when I was younger."

He still has the unwelcome ability to go 10-of-15 one night before going 5-of-20 the next, and that sporadic tendency is still something that will improve with time and better health. Yet, as he refines his mid-range game, adapts his jumper to drain shots from new angles off glass, makes smart drives to the basket and finishes through traffic, along with finding a general patience and intelligence to the game as he can’t explode to score as freely, he’s been far more effective.

Thanks to scoring at least 24 points in each of the last three games and dropping 30 on Feb. 5 against the Denver Nuggets, Rose has now averaged 21.1 points on 46.2 percent shooting with 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists over his last 10 outings.

That’s impressive enough, but when looking back over his last 20 games, the improved consistency is still there. With averages of 19.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 45.6 percent shooting, Rose has put together more than just a brief hot spell.

There’s still a good part of the season left and seeing as the Bulls had lost five straight before winning their last two games, there’s still a long road ahead. Plus, with an 8th place ranking in the Eastern Conference at 29-26, the absence of Joakim Noah and especially Jimmy Butler isn’t making matters easier and making the playoffs won’t be a guarantee like normal.

During this tough time, at least the Bulls have an old — yet almost new — face to look to.

Derrick Rose is starting to come back.