With each game in which Derrick Rose hurls the rock downwards through the hoop like a thunderbolt from Jupiter, he further dissolves the 'sophomore slump' tag which had been foolishly attached to his season (while he was playing through an ankle injury).
In the last couple of weeks, he's stepped such displays up somewhat, and has been submitting some insanely athletic plays, none more than this posterisation of Goran Dragic:
In the last couple of weeks, he's stepped such displays up somewhat, and has been submitting some insanely athletic plays, none more than this posterisation of Goran Dragic:
vs. Dragic & the Suns (and the people of Phoenix, and Slovenia), 22nd Jan
Ladies and gentlemen,
I like Goran Dragic as a player, and I rate him for getting up there to even try and contest the finish. I imagine him telling himself - "hustle, hustle, think positive, try to block, he might miss, he might mi-". At this point the internal narrative cuts off abruptly, as his ego is ripped out and thrown over the crowd like confetti. His name will forever be synonymous with this moment. On the bright side, a generation of young Chicago sports fans will grow up knowing his jersey number.
vs. Harden/Westbrook & the Thunder, 27th Jan
Since the Phoenix game, everybody in the NBA is wary of being the next Dragic (who has not been seen since the dunk), and have stopped trying to contest when Rose drives into the lane. Derrick is happy to oblige with more monsters.
(Check out Brad Miller with the "Yeeeeaaah bwooyeee!" expression 11 secs in)
James Harden and Russell Westbrook hoped to avoid framing their inevitable moment of defeat in a poster, and so didn't even pretend to attempt to block. As a response, I've captured their shame for the ages. Their guilty faces will forever be displayed here, in full Youtube HD glory.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook hoped to avoid framing their inevitable moment of defeat in a poster, and so didn't even pretend to attempt to block. As a response, I've captured their shame for the ages. Their guilty faces will forever be displayed here, in full Youtube HD glory.
Even better is the full-screen version (not embedded here due to size). You get a clear, insightful look at not only their humiliation, but the disgust of the bench, the crowd, the towel guys, and, I'm convinced, the referee. Click for the pic (will open in new window)
vs the Hawks, 5th Feb
Am I seeing a pattern? Maybe someone should watch the right-hand channel, huh? Salmons' pass was a touch too heavy, but it's no problem: Derrick reaches all the way back, meets the ball past the backboard, hovering just long enough to adjust, and spike it down. Dude's got Hops (with a capital H).
The draft combine claimed he could get up 40'' - I reckon it's a little more. His above-the-rim play, for a guy at his position, is unbelievable. He's an Athlete of a PG in the Steve Francis-Baron Davis mould (again, intentional capitalisation), and I'm looking forward to seeing many more like these three.
The draft combine claimed he could get up 40'' - I reckon it's a little more. His above-the-rim play, for a guy at his position, is unbelievable. He's an Athlete of a PG in the Steve Francis-Baron Davis mould (again, intentional capitalisation), and I'm looking forward to seeing many more like these three.
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