Derrick Rose Return Update: Mike Krzyzewski Says Chicago Bulls Superstar Getting Old Form Back
Mike Krzyzewski recently called out Derrick Rose for being too passive, but the USA national team head coach said that he was impressed with what he saw from the superstar guard during their game against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Rose, who averaged just 4.5 points and 2.7 assists in their first six games in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, scored 12 points and dished out five assists in their 119-76 win against Slovenia in the quarterfinals.
"We believe in Derrick," Krzyzewski said in an interview via ESPN. "And I think the lid came off or the jar was open or whatever you want to say. He had his look."
Krzyzewski said that Rose was a shadow of his old self in their first six games, but he added that the Chicago Bulls superstar is slowly regaining his old form.
The Olympic champion coach revealed that he talked to Rose before the Slovenia match, asking him to start playing his game, and he is glad the 25-year-old superstar responded to the challenge.
"You could see in his face he was different," Krzyzewski said. "And I'm glad. I think this starts the journey back to being who he is. And I think it'll happen."
Rose also said in an interview that he changed his approach during their quarterfinal match against Slovenia, saying that he was more confident to do his thing because Krzyzewski gave him the "green light."
"He just told me to go out there and play the way I normally play, don't worry about getting guys into the game," Rose said. "The way that I play, guys find a way to play around me, so tonight just try to be aggressive and try to keep it going."
The former NBA Most Valuable Player also denied that his play was affected by the incident involving Paul George. Rose said that he was devastated when George broke his leg, but it was not the reason why he looked cautious during their first six matches in the World Cup.
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