Los Angeles Lakers & Chicago Bulls News: Will Derrick Rose or Kobe Bryant Be Better This NBA Season? (POLL)
Both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers are coming off an NBA season in which their superstar player saw very limited action.
Derrick Rose injured his knee once again and only played in 10 games last year. Over in the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant fractured his left knee and only played in six games. As always, Rose and Bryant have high expectations because they are great players, play in a big media market and they set the set bar high
Having said all that, let's preview who will have the better 2014 NBA season:
Why Kobe Bryant Will Have The Better Season
Bryant may have only played in six games last year, but he's still the "Black Mamba." Bryant is a workout warrior and very rarely misses games, outside of last season, of course. The addition of Jeremy Lin at the point guard position will only help things for Bryant. Lin will help limit minutes for Bryant and distribute the ball with Nick Young's excellent perimeter shooting abilities.
Head coach Byron Scott knows how to use Bryant properly, as opposed to former coach Mike D'Antoni. Bryant also has a far superior jump shot than Rose, so he can score from further distances when needed.
Despite being asked to do more and play in a much tougher conference, Bryant is healthier and more proven come playoff time. Rose has only played 49 regular season games over the last three seasons combined, leaving a lot of doubt in Chicago. Betting on Bryant to have the more successful season may be wise because Rose hasn't shown he can stay on the court in recent years.
Why Derrick Rose Will Have The Better Season
Rose benefits from playing on a better team than Bryant and in a weaker conference. Even without Rose last season, head coach Tom Thibodeau had a 48-34 record. The Bulls placed fourth overall in the Eastern Conference with their elite defense led by Joakim Noah, and now Pau Gasol is on the team.
Another advantage for Rose is age. Rose is still just 25 years old, 11 years younger than Bryant. Bryant will also be entering his 19th season in the NBA; so, a lot more miles have been accumulated in his career than Rose's.
Rose did just win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011, and he's shown he is fully capable of driving this Bulls team to the playoffs. Unlike Bryant, Rose doesn't have to worry about age, a tough conference or a new head coaching system. The only question for Rose this season is--can he stay healthy?
If Rose can adjust his playing style to more of a traditional "pass first" point guard, instead of always looking to attack the basket, he should be fine. Rose will have to trust in his teammates to score the basketball while he piles up assists all year long.
In the end, both guards are good, coming off disappointing 2013-14 NBA seasons and have a lot going for them this upcoming season. Vote in our sports poll below on who you think will have the better season.
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