Daily Sports Select : Derrick Rose is a less creative Steve Francis with Jason Kidd's acceleration and defensive anticipation

Watch highlights of Derrick Rose, Steve Francis and Jason Kidd first. I selected pre-NBA highlights of Steve Francis and Jason Kidd to get a better comparison of the players when Francis and Kidd were closer to Rose's current age :


A. Derrick Rose (courtesy of ChitownToewsKaner)
Music :
1. "Sky's the Limit" by Lil Wayne
2. "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC (from The Razor's Edge)


B. Steve Francis (courtesy of JNS14)
Music : "Picture Me Rollin'" by 2Pac (from All Eyez On Me)


C. Jason Kidd ("Before the League" courtesy of TMcGradyHOU1)
Music :
1. "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco
2. Top Down by Swizz Beatz
3. "Jedi Mind Tricks" by Lupe Fiasco

1. Overview : Derrick Rose is similar to Steve Francis in build, style and athleticism. He has an explosive vertical and first step, combined with excellent strength, size and body control that enables him to get to the basket and finish. Also, though not quite built like a truck like Jason Kidd, Rose is a big kid who can truly fly up and down the court. Rose's athleticism enables him to sneak in for rebounds and take them down to the other end and finish, all at once. Derrick Rose's sole season at Memphis indicated that Rose's first instinct is to drive and score, rather than pass, and that he needs the ball to be effective.

2. Player specifics : Derrick Rose has an excellent dribble drive. He can crossover, hesitate, and he has that finishing power dribble that he takes before he takes off for the rim. When he is at the rim, he can contort, draw contact, and do whatever he has to to finish.

I've noticed that as explosive and big as Rose is, he does not get enough separation to finish with a dunk in traffic. This usually indicates that there is wasted and telegraphed movement at the point of attack, and in Rose's case, his angle of attack in the halfcourt is slightly wider than optimal (too much East-West movement). Also, there is a longer than optimal lapse between stationary position and the attack, and gives the defense time to set up. Players like Steve Francis and Allen Iverson had almost no wasted movement when they made their move, even as college players.

Derrick Rose must also work hard on his jumpshot. His mechanics are a little too tight, and slows down his release. Also, although he is compared to Jason Kidd, he has not shown much yet in terms of being a pure passer. He almost always looks for the shot first, and has not yet shown the ability to demoralize defenses with his passing.

In transition is where Rose is at his best. He can really get up and down the court, and although he wastes motion in the halfcourt, he doesn't in transition. With defenders not set, Rose will finish with power almost everytime he gets his chance. What makes Derrick Rose so dangerous is his ability to ignite breaks by getting defensive rebounds or forcing turnovers, and this is where he reminds people of a young Jason Kidd. With his strength, size and quickness, Rose really has a chance to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

3. Outlook : Once Derrick Rose catches on in a few years, he will be a perennial all-star. The question is, will he be a perennial all-star like Stephon Marbury or Steve Francis or will he make his team contend year in and year out like Jason Kidd used to?

For a point guard to lead his team to postseason glory, he must be a passing floor general. In that respect, Rose is less of a passer than Marbury and Francis at the same stage. He is either shooting from outside or finishing at the rim, but doesn't really get into the hairs of a defense and work the finer ranges.

The finer passing game is not something that an NBA player just picks up, especially if he has been playing basketball for a while. Chances are, even at a young age, his passing game is pretty much what it is. He has to make up for it by excelling at other things. For example, he can work on becoming a better and deeper catch and shooter to take pressure off of his slashing game. Also, he has all the tools to be a one-man defensive wrecking crew, and that is what he should do. After all, it is much easier to score and pass in transition than it is in the halfcourt.

Taking advantage of what he is best suited to do is important for Derrick Rose. With 82-game seasons, Rose will not be able to utilize his athletic gifts as the years add up. Even players like Jason Kidd and Toni Kukoc, players who could rarely be seen dunking by the time they were in their late 20's, were high fliers when they were Derrick Rose's age.

4. Team fit : Derrick Rose's natural gifts are best suited playing with a good passing big man or point forward on the team. Rose is an unselfish player, but because his first instinct isn't to pass, a team will have to make up for Rose's shortcomings on that end by adding a pressure release valve in the form of those types of players. With multiple passers on the floor, Rose can use his athletic gifts to make backdoor cuts and spot up jumpshots from open, yet closer spots to the basket. Also, as one of many passers, Rose can use his dribble penetration to add a drive and kick element to his game.

More NBA Draft scouting reports!
1. Michael Beasley is a light skinned, better shooting, less explosive version of pre-injury Larry Johnson
2. Kevin Love is a rich man's Darko Milicic, poor man's Luis Scola
3. Brook and Robin Lopez are the impoverished peoples' Tim Duncan and Anderson Varejao

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