McGraw: Fits and starts for D-Rose on comeback trail
Any positive step in Derrick Rose's comeback requires a side order of caution.
After scoring an impressive 31 points against Portland last Friday, Rose was back to ordinary during the brief trip to Miami and Atlanta.
The second night of the back-to-back games was especially rough, with Rose hitting just 6 of 21 shots from the field in Monday's loss to the Hawks.
"Every step along the way (is a positive)," Rose said after the game, according to bulls.com. "Even with a performance like tonight.
"It's fine. It's already out of my mind, onto the next game. Just learn from it and try to keep it moving."
Rest seems to be a necessary ingredient for Rose's two surgically repaired knees. In the second leg of back-to-back games this season, he's averaging 10.3 points and shooting 32.4 percent.
With one day off before a game, Rose is averaging 19.4 points and shooting 45.3 percent.
Granted, this is a small sample size. He has played in just three back-to-backs and one of those was the night in Denver when he sat out the second half because of a sore hamstring.
The Bulls failed to pass a tough test against the rejuvenated Hawks on Monday. Five times during the fourth quarter, the Bulls closed within 3 points or fewer, but were never able to even the score.
Rose wasn't the only player who failed to deliver, but he did turn in a disappointing finish, hitting 1 of 5 shots with 2 turnovers in the fourth quarter.
"Fourth quarter, certain spots I should have chosen to be aggressive and I didn't and that's something I can learn from," Rose said. "We missed some wide-open shots, but it's part of the game. We put ourselves in a hole; we should have gotten the lead a long time ago.
"Don't get me wrong. They're a great team, but we should have made sure we came out a little bit more aggressive in the beginning of the game.
"Just missing step in threes, shots I normally hit. Tonight they were flat; didn't have any lift to them. I guarantee next game that won't happen. I've got to (take those shots).
"The way they were playing, making sure they were in the paint and making us take those open shots, shots we normally make. But tonight they were not going down."
The Hawks won for the 10th time in their last 11 games and moved 2 games ahead of the Bulls for third place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, a longtime San Antonio assistant, is earning consideration for coach of the year in a strong field.
Rose's struggles in Atlanta don't diminish how well he played against Portland. Rose has also been much better at home this season than on the road.
It's all part of getting acclimated to NBA competition again after nearly two years off.
The next few days will be interesting, with two more tough back-to-backs. The Bulls host New York on Thursday, then travel to Memphis (19-4) the following day.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Bulls will face the top two teams in the East on consecutive nights - hosting Toronto (19-6), then visiting Washington (17-6).
Will Rose be any better than he was Monday?
"I want him attacking," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after the game. "When he attacks, he's special. When he tries to pace himself, that's not going to work.
"He has to be aggressive. It's not perfect. Over the course of a game, he's going to make a lot more good plays than he is bad.
"And that's all good for us. He can't be afraid to take a chance. He has great ability. I want him to go. It didn't work out this time but it will work out next time."
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