2014 NBA Top 20: #6 Derrick Rose – the much-awaited return

Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls runs a play against the Indiana Pacers on October 5, 2013 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images)

That does beg the question: how long will it take?

Because even though they snapped Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak in the regular season, they were bundled out of the second round of the playoffs by the eventual champions, 4-1.

Throughout the 2012/13 season, the Bulls put up gritty displays and impressed with their sheer determination to pull through in the absence of their influential point guard. But when it mattered the most Thibodeau’s side struggled to set up plays and instead ended up being rather prosaic and rudimentary in their approach.

All of that has suddenly changed and will continue to do so as the season progresses. And the reason for that is Rose. Thibodeau can go back to setting up intricate yet effortless pick-and-rolls with the use of big-man Noah’s ball-handling skills (who along with Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol is the best passing centre in the league) and Rose’s speed and athleticism.

Rose is a rare breed; he isn’t your conventional point guard. He has never enjoyed shooting jumpers beyond the arc (but has since worked on that in his time out) and neither has he benefited by playing the fancy pass to an open colleague (like Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio does).

Rose keeps it simple in his own explosive way. He’d much rather make room for himself in a non-existent lane and drive to the basket for the tomahawk. And he’d much rather take the defender with him to the touchline and make the pass to a teammate for an open bucket, which is usually a three. Simple and effective at the same time.

In the advent of Rose’s first competitive game in the NBA season-opener against the Heat, nobody should expect the 2008 number one pick to make his career numbers of 21 PPG and 7 APG; that would be unfair on him. But in time, if Rose can average a double-double on a consistent basis, the Bulls could be this season’s surprise package.

The Bulls haven’t won a championship since the Michael Jordan – Phil Jackson era and it would be imprudent to say that this could be their year. But it wouldn’t be a costly gamble to put your money on them making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, in what is an extremely competitive division.

However in this mini-era of theirs, they have their best shot of putting behind years of disappointment. And with Rose back in the red uniform, fans have every right to believe that they could revisit past glories.

All that needs to be made sure of is that the pre-game Alan Parsons inspired Sirius theme song is played louder at the United Center.