Credit GarPax (slang for Chicago Bulls GM Gar Forman and Vice President John Paxson) for signing point guard Aaron Brooks and combo guard E’Twaunn Moore this summer. With Derrick Rose, you must embody the official motto of the Boy Scouts of America: “be prepared.”
Derrick Rose has only played in 62 games since the end of the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, and when you count both the regular season and the playoffs, he’s only played in about 33% of the Bulls schedule over this four year period.
“As you can imagine, it’s not an easy thing to deal with,” said Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau today when asked if he’s texted and spoken with Derrick Rose.
We’ve covered the tragedy that’s been the post 2011 professional career of Derrick Rose. It’s quite sad; really depressing to be writing the same exact story about him three years in a row now. You can’t help but truly feel for the guy whether you’re a Bulls fan or not.
We’ve also covered the sleeper qualities of E’Twaun Moore in great detail here. The man nicknamed “Smoodge” is versatile, has an outside shot and learned the three-ball game under the great Ray Allen before arriving in Chicago. Moore has only averaged 7.6 minutes per game, but he’s shooting 43% from the field. That’s a lot better than Kirk Hinrich’s 36% from the field and his dreadful 34% from long range.
With E’Twaun Moore- it’s time to show us what you have. Hinrich has been battling an undisclosed illness, and he’s probable for tonight. The Bulls are hopeful he can go. However, he just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. It’s not going to be his show or Moore’s however.
Now it’s on Aaron Brooks. Look at what Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin did with their careers when they had the chance. Rose’s knees gave out and then those two journeymen point guards thrived in Thibodeau’s system as Roase’s replacement. Then they went an got paid elsewhere.
Maybe now it’s the time for Aaron Brooks? In just under 20 minutes a game this season, he’s averaged double figures. He’s shooting 43% from the field, and also 43% from three point range. Rose was shooting a career low 40%. The two players have a very similar assist to turnover ratio. (1.5 to 1.6). Moore has the team’s best a/to ratio at 3.0, although that’s misleading given the small sample size.
Brooks up in Seattle, childhood friends with Robinson. The starting point guard for the 2009 Houston Rockets, who made the playoffs, Brooks was also voted the NBA’s most improved player in 2009-10. The former first round pick was a four year starter at Oregon.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive.
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