What to Make of Derrick Rose’s Promising and Unexpected Play

The city of Memphis and Derrick Rose share an incredible connection. One that is so deep, in fact, that some people consider the 14-year vet even to be synonymous with Bluff City. If you’re comparing “hometown heroes,”… it’s tough to have a much better example than Rose, in this ginger’s opinion.

Rose’s Grizzlies debut —and in a sense return—shooed in a new look backcourt for the team. With Ja Morant sidelined for the first 25 games… and Tyus Jones off to the Nation’s capitol… Two new faces—Rose and Marcus Smart—would lead the charge in the guard room.

Following the Grizzlies’ preseason bouts, the optimal word I’d use would be “nonplussed.” At least when it comes to D-Rose’s play, from all the “talk,” I wasn’t expecting much.

He’s remained more than a little serviceable over the years despite an injury-plagued career. And yet, entering year 15 and at age 35, it speaks to his quality that Rose can still find ways to surprise us. Not only that, but he’s managed to relieve significant uncertainty surrounding the team through the first 25 games, that is.

With five preseason games as our sample size, it’s worth reexamining what Rose is capable of. Should we temper our expectations for these first 25 games?

He will play. Take my word for it. Out of necessity, he has to play. If the last two seasons—i.e., Jones’ usage—indicate what we can expect moving forward, then we’re looking at 20+ minutes for the backup point guard during the regular season.

Let’s examine the seasons in which Rose played at least 20 minutes. Sound good? But let’s do post-ACL injury. Like it or not, D-Rose has been a different player since the injury.

In the eight total seasons he’s played over 20 minutes (’13-’17, ’18-’22), his numbers have always held up. He’s managed per-game averages of 16.7 PTS, 3.1 REB, and 4.6 AST over those seasons. Not too shabby.

It’s not like he’s a net negative when he sees less of the floor, either. When he has played less than 20 minutes in a season, he’s still producing. Rose has averaged 7.0 PTS, 1.5 REB, and 1.6 AST per game here.

So, how has he looked three games into the season? It’s a smaller sample size than the five preseason games, sure… But how has D-Rose performed through three regular-season games when seeing the court?

To be honest? Pretty damn good, and that’s not me blowing air up anyone’s skirt either.

Considering he’s learning a brand new system with brand new teammates? The play he’s exhibiting is more in line with his first two years in New York. You know, when he was an active contributor.

Sidebar—I’m not sure why we act like that time was so far in the past. That time with the Knicks, if you’ll remember, was still post-COVID, not the Ice Age. Alright. I’m done—Sidebar over.

He’s averaging more in three games with the Grizzlies than any previous year. When playing this amount of time, I mean. At his current rate, he’s on pace to have career highs—when playing under 20 min.—in… Well, everything.

I’m not being hyperbolic, either. I mean everything. Rose has made three appearances with Memphis so far this season. You’ll find his numbers in these contests proceeding the capital D, Dime below…

10.3 PTS, 2.3 REB, 3.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.3 BLK in 18.7 minutes/game. Each of those would mark career highs for D-Rose when seeing less than 20 minutes of action. Oh, and he’s shooting the ball—from the line and deep—lights out. Those splits are 55.6/100.0%.

That’s not a typo. Now, could his FG% (36.4%) stand to raise a tick? Sure. I’d be willing to wager it will. It’s only dipped under 40.0% twice before. That may be one of the surest bets I can think of for the rest of this already unpredictable season. But I’m a writer—not a gambler—so betting questions you should direct elsewhere.

But you don’t have to be a gambler to see the certainty of these odds. For example, look at his numbers estimated per 100 possessions. He’s only going to be getting more of those at this point, after all.

Rose is on pace to average 25.8 PTS, 5.8 REB, 9.2 AST, 1.7 STL, and 0.8 BLK. That’s estimated with the increased workload mentioned above. Hell, break down his current stats and current workload with the Grizzlies. You know… What I mentioned after the exquisite pass above?