Derrick Rose to Start Taking More Shots Early in Games

Derrick Rose came into the season looking to lay in the weeds and set up his teammates at the start of games, but that strategy isn’t working out very well for the Chicago Bulls so far. Rose promises to change this approach. From the Tribune: “We have to get our offense going so we can get easy baskets,’ Rose said. ‘That’s what I’m real concerned about. Last year, we rarely got easy baskets. This year, we have to find a way.’ During training camp, Rose had talked about deferring more, particularly with the addition of Richard Hamilton. Look for that to change Thursday in Sacramento. ‘In the first quarter I have to establish myself a little more,’ Rose said. ‘I see that being laid-back is just not doing it. I think both games in the first quarter I shot the ball just one or two times. So next game, I have to change it up.’ Rose is 1-for-4 in the first quarters of the first two games. More alarming, he has attempted just four free throws in the first two games and went the first six quarters without going to the line once. ‘I have to push the ball, get to the rim, be more aggressive,’ Rose said. ‘We tend to slow the ball down a little bit, getting a feel for how we’re playing. I really haven’t caught on to it yet.'”