Derrick Rose looks like … Derrick Rose in win over Pacers
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Derrick Rose just sent a message to the Eastern Conference.
The superstar scored 13 points in 20 minutes to help the Chicago Bulls defeat the Indiana Pacers 82-76 on Saturday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Rose, who missed all of last season after tearing his left ACL during the 2012 playoffs, made 5 of 12 shots and 3 of 5 free throws.
Indiana’s Danny Granger returned after missing most of last season with an injured left knee. He scored six points on 2-for-10 shooting.
The game had an atmosphere that bordered on playoff quality. If you thought for one second that this wasn’t a rivalry, think again. Noah was talking trash from the bench throughout the game, and play occasionally got chippy.
Other notable things:
-The Pacers made just 33 percent of their shots.
-Indiana was outrebounded 56-38, even though Joakim Noah sat out with a right groin strain.
-Roy Hibbert got off to a good start but made just 4 of 14 shots. He had 11 points and nine rebounds but still has the tendency to go for layups when a dunk makes more sense. With his added bulk, he should be able to impose his will more offensively.
-Granger played 29 minutes, which was more than expected.
-Solomon Hill made 1 of 5 shots and missed a layup when he got caught halfway between a layup and a dunk.
-Luis Scola scored seven points.
-Lance Stephenson made 1 of 2 shots in 24 minutes. He didn’t look to shoot as often as usual.
-David West’s mid-range jumper is still deadly.
-Paul George scored 10 points in the third quarter. He finished with 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
-George Hill did a nice job running the team. He had eight points and six assists.
Here is video of Rose talking after the game.
Did the Pacers do enough to address playing against Derrick Rose or Dwyane Wade?
The Pacers will struggle against those kinds of players because they aren’t built on speed. They have advantages at other positions that will make them a title contender.