Derrick Rose to Be Named NBA MVP, Sources Say, And Bulls Point Guard Certainly Deserves the Honor
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is set to be named the NBA MVP later this week, according to a report from ESPN Chicago.
The report cites league sources close to the situation, who say that Rose will be given the MVP trophy before Game 2 of the Bulls' second round series with the Atlanta Hawks. The Bulls have scheduled a press conference for 4 P.M. CST to make a "major announcement".
While neither Rose nor the NBA have confirmed the award, the decision to give the point guard the trophy this season isn't just a logical decision, it's also the right one.
Sure, the advanced metrics may say that Rose isn't quite worthy of the title this season, but anyone who has watched the Bulls play this season is very well aware of just how important he is to the team's cause.
Rose remains the Bulls' go-to playmaker, the leader of this team's offense. He's their go-to scorer, but he also creates shots for teammates and runs the offense with ruthless efficiency. He's got that explosive first step that's capable of blowing past an opposing defender, and he's shown himself as one of the tougher players in the NBA this season.
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But, what sets Rose apart as an MVP candidate can't really be measured by statistics. Watch the Bulls for more than 45 seconds of a game and it becomes clear immediately that Rose is this team's leader. When he's on the court,
mlb jerseys, this team is a much different, much more dangerous squad. He carried the Bulls through injuries to Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, and he emerged as the emotional leader of the team.
For proof of Rose's importance, one need look no further than Monday's Game 1 loss to the Hawks. With Rose hurting, and his shots not falling (11-for-27 from the floor), the Bulls found themselves unable to rally from a sizable deficit.
Rose is the most important player on the NBA's best team, and he raised his game to a new level this season. He emerged as the best point guard in the NBA, and became the leader the Bulls needed.
Sure, other players might have been more statistically impressive. But it's the intangibles that put Rose over the top as MVP. He's a leader, a winner, and with the way he's played all season long, it really is hard to find a single player more valuable to his team's efforts.
If that's not an MVP, I don't know what is.