What the Cleveland Cavaliers will need from Derrick Rose

After a short hiatus from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Derrick Rose is ready to return. Rose will still be a pivotal part of the team, however, he’ll have to make some adjustments.

Since November 22, Derrick Rose has been away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, “re-evaluating his future“. The injuries the former MVP has endured throughout his career were taking a toll on him not just physically, but mentally as well. This season Rose has only played in 7 out of 23 total games and hasn’t played since November 7. Rose has missed 12 straight games due to a sprained ankle, however, has been away from the Cavs long enough and wants to return to the team.

Derrick Rose, if healthy, will be a very important piece in the Cavaliers’ plan to get back to the NBA Finals. While his first season in Cleveland hasn’t quite gone as planned thus far, there’s still plenty of time for improvements. Rose will have to make adjustments once he returns in order for the Cavaliers to continue playing at this level.

First, we all know #ThatSLOWGrind is coming to an end very very soon. Isaiah Thomas is set to return mid-December and will be the starting point guard for the Cavs. Derrick Rose will move to the bench along with, most likely, Wade, Korver, Green, and Thompson. Rose, who is averaging 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, will have more opportunities with the second unit compared to playing with the starting lineup.

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Instead of going up against starting guards, Rose will have the benefit of going up against backups. This will allow him to score and playmaker much easier. In addition, his assists numbers will have to improve, as they should considering the ball will be in his hands a lot more.

Rose moving to the second unit will make the bench unit that much exciting. The bench backcourt of Wade and Rose could prove to be the best in all of the NBA. Rose and Wade will have to learn to play with each other for the bench to reach its peak. The second unit, minus Kyle Korver, will not terrific at shooting if it is indeed those five, so they will certainly have to work out some kinks along the way.

It’s plays like this that make Rose unguardable and valuable to the Cavaliers.

Most importantly, Rose will have to stay healthy. I know that’s not much of an “adjustment”, but for the Cavaliers to be able to play their absolute best, everybody has to be healthy. Especially Derrick Rose. Whether that means taking more jump shots, or picking and choosing when he drives, Rose has to change something. The Cavaliers need a healthy Derrick Rose.

Once Rose gets back to being healthy, everything will start to fall back into place. Once he learns to play with the bench; his scoring and playmaking will become very valuable, and his confidence will come back.

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All in all, the Cleveland Cavaliers need the Derrick Rose everybody, including him, knows he can be.