After the from the snow Chicago’s historic blizzard melted, a hybrid of “Roses” bloomed in the middle of the brutal winter. At the start of the Chicago Bulls 109-99 win over the NBA best San Antonio Spurs, Derrick Rose grabbed the microphone and thanked the fans for making him the Chicago Bulls’ first All-Star starter since Michael Jordan in 1998.
Then he went out and showed why they made a wise decision. It was another pretty rose for the bouquet. Here are my top ten.
By West Lamy
10. Ro-se knows basketball
There are things we take for granted in life. Derrick won the Skills Challenge in 2008-09, where he beat out several All-Stars to become the first rookie to claim the trophy. I really took for granted that I was on the verge of witnessing something special.
9. The first pick goes to…
Derrick Rose was selected first overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, an unlikely event considering that Chicago had only a 1.7% chance of capturing the top pick in the draft lottery. The Miami Heat were a close second in almost drafting Rose, drink the remedy Heat fans.
8.Turn up the lights in here; Extra bright, I want you to see this…
At the start of the NBA season, I ranked D-Rose tied for third with Rajon Rondo behind Chris Paul and Deron Williams as top point guards. I was wrong. When the startling lineup was announced for the All-Star game, Derrick Rose became the first Bulls player voted in as a starter since Michael Jordan in 1998.
7. Dunking some French toast sticks in syrup
The Best Derrick Rose dunk is of him posterizing Goran Dragic. This dunk happened on the road in Phoenix, the Sun fans were still a buzz after the game was over. Do yourself a favor and watch below, Watch, and also listen to Stacey King. “Where is my poster machine?”….I wanna go HIGHER!
6. Best of the class
Chicago’s first overall pick of the ’08 Draft won the Rookie of the Year award by a landslide, joining Michael Jordan (1985) and Elton Brand (2000) as the only Bulls to do so. He was also the first number-one overall pick since LeBron James to win the award.
5. M-V-P…envy me…
Rose would have been a senior right now at the University of Memphis, instead he’s the midseason MVP after 50 games played. Think he made the right choice to leave school early? The Bulls have lost their second and third best players (Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah) for extended weeks this year, yet Rose has them just 2 games off the Eastern Conference leading pace. No surprise, as Rose was named the decade’s third greatest high school point guard by ESPN RISE magazine behind Chris Paul and T.J. Ford.
4. Boston 36 party
Derrick Rose was a monster in his first playoff game. Against the defending champion Boston Celtics, Rose recorded 36 points (tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s NBA record for points scored by a rookie in his playoff debut set in 1970), 11 assists, and 4 rebounds as the Bulls prevailed in a 105–103 overtime win on the road. Rose became the second player in NBA history to record 35 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut, after Chris Paul. The debut started the momentum for the most exciting playoff series in NBA history.
3. Slim Chin with the Caviar pool and Lady pyramid
Why did I rank this moment so high? I viewed the commercial before I viewed the film, The Hangover. When I finally viewed The Hangover three times, this could have been his best marketing moment off the Hardwood. Co-starting Mr.Chow from the Hangover, Slim Chin is played by Ken Jeong- priceless for a sneaker commercial.
2. Every Superhero needs his theme music
Rose had 29 points and nine assists, and the Chicago Bulls defeated the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 88-84 for their fourth straight win. No one man should have all that power. It was the Bulls first win over the Lakers in nearly four years.
1.Happy Birthday Air Jordan.
The Chicago Bulls played host to the NBA best San Antonio Spurs on February 17, 2011, Michael Jordan’s birthday. This is the best game or moment for Derrick Rose..so far. Rose played as if he had the world in his hand, the master plan to win against the team with the best record. I received calls and text messages from friends expressing how Rose’s performance was the best of the season. Inside, outside, attacking the rim. His game was in “Christian Dior Denim flow” mode. Rose finished with a career high 42 points, eight assists, five rebounds, one block and echos of MVP chants going into the all star break.
West Lamy is a “Senior Correspondent” for The Sports Bank