Derrick Rose has shown up and shown out this season thus far. He's averaging 20.8 points per game while shooting at a 56.2 percent clip. In his return to Chicago Friday night in a 112-106 loss, he even received MVP chants.
But in an era of load management, the Detroit Pistons have no room to load manage Rose. Of course, with his injury history, he would be the perfect candidate for it. The Pistons are perhaps hoping Rose doesn't fall apart while he's returning to his prodigious production from his early career. But with injuries to Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson, Rose must remain as consistent as possible.
While Griffin should be back soon, Jackson won't be back for about four weeks. The onus of the Pistons is now being relegated to Rose and his production.
So far, he has done his job with his production, but it hasn't translated to wins. The Pistons are 2-4, and while they have two losses for a combined 12 points, the other two were by a combined 29 points. That, of course, isn't squarely on Rose. But if the Pistons want his productivity to continue until Jackson returns, they will expect more wins, and less blow out losses. Once Griffin makes his season debut, then things should smooth out in terms of Rose and the expectations for him.
But to measure Rose and his productivity, it shouldn't just be his points per game or plus-minus. Nope, not highlight-reel plays either. If Rose can just keep showing up on the floor without any injuries, then the Pistons are good to go. As aforementioned, Rose's career is known for being plagued by the injury bug.
The last time Rose played at least 81 games was his MVP season in 2011. Since then, the most games he has played was 66 in 2016 with the New York Knicks. Maybe the best way the Pistons should look at production for Rose is his presence should be a present. A healthy Rose throughout the season is better than wishing for Rose of old to show up every night.
So the Pistons, in theory, need Rose to hold down the court until Jackson returns to the backcourt. But it's best to hope that Rose can hold his body together until the Pistons are whole again. Rose getting 18 points per game appearing in every game of the season is better than averaging 25 and missing six. Because if it's injury problems now, it will be injury problems later.
Let's hope that Rose can continue his productivity as long as he can make it last.
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