More where that came from for Rose

Just so we're clear, this is less criticism than it is suggestion.

Either way, Derrick Rose is going to have to learn to control his body better when he's up among the trees.

If the NBA were as physical as it used to be, this is not a lesson Rose would have had to learn the hard way, with a hard foul and harder landing Wednesday night.

He would have understood already the dangers of being out of control in the land of the giants, but up until now he didn't know that's the way the game should be played.

Dwight Howard, all 6-feet-11 of him, merely got in Rose's way and put a 270-pound body on him, which is a foul, and that's all it is.

Neither player did anything wrong, but Rose simply isn't used to being challenged physically when he's up in the air, off balance and vulnerable.

At 6-3, he's remarkably good at elevating near the bucket, but that also means he's going to be in dangerous spots from time to time.

From this point forward, he'll be aware of the monsters down low and protect himself a little better, because there will be more where that came from.

It's not going to stop him from doing his thing or driving to the bucket, just as the Bulls wouldn't stop any opposing player from driving the lane if they played physically.

But contested shots and hard fouls do make players think a bit about what they're doing, and that's why it's an effective and important part of the game.

The Bulls don't do it much and most teams don't anymore, which is why Rose wasn't prepared for what was coming.

You get the feeling that starting with the Howard hit, he will be more aware of what awaits him.

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