Does Vinny Think Rose Was Traded Too?

the game was under control. We’ve got four games in five nights. Derrick’s a very young player that needs rest. In other words, if there was ever a game to use our bench, that was it.

As to the other benchings, well, that’s more questionable, especially since Kirk was playing so poorly in Indiana. But I don’t condone putting Rose in an environment where poor play has no consequences. When he fails on defense, he should be yanked – then one of the assistants needs to get in his ear, let him know what he did wrong. Then he needs to be put back in the game.

It’s the not coming back in the game part that bothers me. When you teach after a benching and put the player back in, that’s good coaching. The player understands that he’s been pulled for his, and the team’s, benefit. When you just sit somebody, don’t talk to them, and leave them there, it’s interpreted as punishment. It both hurts the relationship and doesn’t help the player get better.

Seen from afar, I’ve actually liked the amount of communication between Derrick and VDN. Now, yeah, I’d prefer it be Popovich or Coach K doing the communicating, because I could trust that Rose would be getting experienced, useful instruction. Still, we’re a long way from Skiles days, in which Tyrus and Noah were confused, felt alienated, and on the whole didn’t know what the hell was happening. I don’t think it’s coincidental that T2 and Noah have also begun to flourish with Vinny at the helm.

Derrick leads the team in minutes. He’s gained enormous experience, and he’s continuing to do so. Furthermore, he doesn’t lack confidence, and getting pulled in the fourth is not the kind of thing to bug a player that mentally tough. Heck, that toughness is one of the reasons he drafted him #1 overall.

I understand your nerves regarding Derrick’s development, as both Skiles and Boylan were truly terrible at developing T2 and Noah. But VDN’s done a good job handing the team to a rookie without totally alienating the vets. It might be the one thing he has done well.

the bulls increased their lead by 10 while Rose was on the Bench. Somehow this means that he should have called a timeout and put Rose back in. If you think Vinny could have done more to win the Indiana game that’s a valid criticism, but crying because he didn’t beat Orlando in the manner that you wanted is ridiculous.

Sorry, but he’s not the leader of the Derrick Rose fan club, he’s the coach of the Bulls, and his primary job is to get the team to win games. That’s what gets a coach hired or fired, not amount of minutes played by rookies. Yes, “developing” a rookie is a secondary task, but make no mistake, it is secondary. Somehow I don’t think Rose’s development is hurt by “only” playing 35 minutes last night in the first game of a back to back.

People here need to step back and breathe a little bit. Derrick is the starter on our team, gets major minutes, and still leads all rookies in minutes played this year. While he is the “future” of the Bulls he is not currentlly the biggest factor in whether we win or lose games. If he sits and the Bulls go on a run, there is absolutely no reason from a developmental or organizational perspective to hurry up and put him back in.