Derrick Rose's Frustration Shows In Criticism of Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose is frustrated with the Chicago Bulls’ recent slump. He doesn’t think it’s because of bad play, but because of bad effort. How soon will the players stop talking about that effort and start giving it?

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The evolution of Derrick Rose continues. In his pre-injury days, he was quiet, barely saying two words publicly. And when he did speak, it was mostly a lot of clichés, saying a lot of nothing.

Not this season. He has made statements with his “I can’t breathe” t-shirt, his statement of how great this team can be, and now, with the team’s recent slide, he tees off on his teammates.

The Bulls have lost six of their last eight games with some ugly losses to the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic. Add last night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to the list.

The Bulls suffered a 108-94 loss to the Cavs in a game that really wasn’t even that close. Their intensity in some games is being questioned, and Rose doesn’t like it.

“Everybody has to be on the same page. Until then, we’re going to continue to get our ass kicked,” Derrick Rose said. “We’re not communicating while we’re on the floor to one another. Everybody is quiet. Trust plays a part, but communicating on defense in a team sport is huge.

“We’ve got to give a better effort. It seems like we’re not even competing. It’s f**king irritating.”

Thibodeau is not happy either with the Bulls’ effort. “We have to decide when enough is enough,” he said. “Right now, we’re not a multiple-effort team. We’re not concentrating. We’re not doing our jobs. We have to change that.”

The Bulls’ defensive effort is something that has been the most frustrating part of this season. Their defensive efficiency of 105.9 ranks 14th in the NBA. In the Thibodeau era, the Bulls never finished out of the top five in that category. They are allowing 99.7 points per game, 16th in the NBA. They finished number one last season in that category.

Offensively, the Bulls have been great. They are scoring 102.1 points per game, good for ninth in the NBA. Their offensive efficiency of 108.4 also ranks them ninth.

The Bulls have to find a way to get their defensive intensity back. This is their identity, and they need to remember that. At the same time, Thibodeau needs to make sure that their offensive numbers do not suffer.

Many consider Thibodeau one of the best coaches in the NBA. The time is now for him to prove it. When the team was handicapped without its best offensive player, and in possession of a pedestrian offense, it is easy to concentrate on the other side of the ball. Now he has to find a way to ensure the Bulls play balanced ball.

It’s not like the Bulls have so many different pieces. A lot of the players that played the best defense in the NBA the last few years are still there.

Some make the argument that injuries to Joakim Noah (knee/ankle)

Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

and Mike Dunleavy, and the new pieces like Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks play a part in the Bulls’ recent struggle, but Rose does not believe that.

“We’re midway through the season,” Rose said. “… There’s no excuses. My biggest thing is competing. Playing this game for so long, when you don’t have that edge, we’re going to keep getting our ass whupped.”

Things don’t get much easier for the Bulls. They have a back-to-back against the San Antonio Spurs at the United Center on Thursday and in Dallas against the Mavericks on Friday. They then go back home to face the Miami Heat on Sunday before they embark on a six game road trip, five of them against Western Conference teams.

The Bulls better pick up their intensity quickly or their 4 1/2 game lead over the Cavaliers will disappear, and a first round home court adventure may be lost.

Next: Chicago Bears To Hire Vic Fangio As Defensive Coordinator

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Derrick Rose’s Frustration Shows In Criticism of Chicago Bulls

By Carlos Nazario | Jan 20, 2015