Derrick Rose was unreal on first day of USA Basketball training camp

Derrick Rose put on quite the show yesterday at the first USA basketball training camp practice. In fact, according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was impressed enough to say Derrick is better than he was four years ago:
“I was ecstatic about watching him today,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s better than four years ago. Four years ago, he was 21, and he was just on the verge of becoming who he was going to be. But he had a great practice today. You don’t practice like this [every day]. He hasn’t been in practices like this. Now [we'll] watch what he does for the next few days.”

Sport Illustrated's Ben Golliver elaborated:.
Kicking off his latest comeback attempt in style, Derrick Rose threw down dunks, tossed in three-pointers and whipped no-look passes at the UNLV practice court on Monday, before shifting into a captivating media session that saw mix funny one-liners with reflections on his recent knee injuries. His performance during and after USA Basketball’s first day of training camp was an assault on the senses, as his athletic flashes brought the memories flooding back while his wide-ranging and clearly-elucidated thoughts projected a fresh serenity…

Rose absolutely displayed plenty of the explosiveness that made him one of the most fun players to watch in the NBA prior to his injuries as this clip demonstrates:



Apparently, according to Friedell Rose's stellar play continued into today as well:
The praise for Derrick Rose's game continued on Tuesday during Day 2 of Team USA camp. No matter which player or coach spoke, they all discussed how impressive Rose has been during his first two days of camp. Let's take a quick look at some of the highlights from Rose's day:

In Rose's words: On the biggest difference he felt in his game from Monday to Tuesday -- "I think it was the same. Just trying to keep on improving and just happy to be here. Happy that the USA team gave me an opportunity to be here and show everything. And just trying to get in a groove with my guys, learn guy's tendencies when I'm playing with them because the coaching staff has been switching up teams and really just trying to live it up."

"I think he's found his rhythm," team USA assistant Tom Thibodeau said of Derrick Rose's performance in two days of camp.
On his scrimmage performance: "I think both days were the same. I think I had one turnover both days and as a point guard that's the only thing that I'm worrying about right now. Making sure that I'm pressuring the ball full-court and making sure that turnovers are low and making sure I'm getting guys the ball when they need it."

Having seen this Bulls fans must be disappointed they were unable to land Carmelo in the off season because that would have been quite the one, two offensive punch.

Rose thought so too and made an effort to recruit the six time All-Star game starting small forward to the Bulls.

Via Joe Cowley at Chicago Sun-Times:
Rose had his daily workout moved from the Berto Center to the United Center on that July 1 visit from Anthony, and had a chance to speak with the All-Star forward that afternoon. “That if he was to come, that the game would be easy,’’ Rose said, when asked what his message to Anthony was. “I don’t know how easy but of course it would be easy. And that we wanted him. Just plain and simple, we wanted him to come. He decided to go somewhere else. But it’s no hard feelings. I can’t get mad at the decision he made. He’s a grown man.’’

Speaking of, I wish Carmelo would quit saying that winning is the most important thing to him.

If this were the case he would have signed with the Bulls irregardless of Phil Jackson and what looks to be a good head coach hire in Derek Fisher.

After all, I really don't see the Knicks competing for a championship anytime while 'Melo's under this contract.

After that, he will be past the magic NBA age of 35 and his production will in all likelihood be in serious decline if he's even still in the league.

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