April 25--MILWAUKEE -- Derrick Rose drew criticism from some NBA types during the regular season for saying he would ease into certain games in his first extended action in more than two seasons.
Rose often said he would be able to flip a switch once the playoffs begin. And he has.
Through three games against the Bucks' tenacious defense, he is averaging 24 points on 47.2 percent shooting with eight assists, four rebounds, two steals and 3.3 turnovers per game.
"I had a vision in my mind," Rose said Friday.
And check out this team impact: The Bulls have posted an offensive efficiency rating of 111.5 during his 114 postseason minutes. Without him for 40 minutes, their rating is 76.2. For perspective, the team rating during the regular season was 102.
Rose said he has eliminated some of the "reckless" tendencies from his younger days, choosing instead to follow designed plays and take advantage when opponents double-team Pau Gasol.
"There are still parts I haven't touched yet -- my floater game, and I'm still not getting to the line as much as I want," Rose said. "They're giving me set shots, so I'll keep taking them."
Rose was equally dangerous on drives and from deep in Game 3. He hit 5 of 9 from 3-point range and drew a foul near the rim with 4.9 seconds left in regulation, making 1 of 2 free throws.
"When he starts making those 3s," Mike Dunleavy said, "I just don't know how you guard him. His confidence was there; it was great to see."
Man down: The Bulls haven't ruled out Nikola Mirotic for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon, but it sounds unlikely he will play because of a strained left quadriceps.
While coach Tom Thibodeau reported that Mirotic said he feels better, Mirotic had not done any running as of Friday afternoon. Thibodeau said the team's only consideration is Mirotic's readiness to play Saturday, but the Bulls are clearly not about to take a chance with a colossal series with the Cavaliers perhaps a week away.
Layups: The Bucks have lost nine consecutive playoff games. ... At 20 years, 138 days, the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo became the youngest player to post a 25-point playoff game since the Timberwolves' Stephon Marbury in 1997. ... Gasol has seven double-doubles in seven games against the Bucks this season.
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
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