Dec. 31--Derrick Rose's percentage rose from 43.3 percent to 86.7 percent.
Yes, there's his 20 percent shooting performance over the last two games at 7-for-35 and the troubling trend of 5.4 3-point attempts per game --.6 higher than his previous career-high -- despite a 26.3 percentage from that distance.
But the most important statistic regarding Rose is him finishing December having played 13 of 15 games for that 86.7 percent. This is after he managed just 6.5 of 15 games for that 43.3 percent in November as he battled nagging ankle and hamstring injuries.
That Rose increased his playing time from 25.9 minutes to 30 minutes per game is also important for a franchise that has lacked its most dynamic star for all but 10 games the last two seasons.
"I'm feeling great," Rose said. "My health is the last thing I'm worried about."
In fact, Rose's December marked his busiest regular-season month -- not counting shortened months like October or a four-game month during the lockout season -- since April 2011. Rose averaged 18.3 points on 41.4 percent shooting (23.3 percent from 3-point range), 5.1 assists and 3.5 turnovers for the month.
"I can't control people's thoughts," Rose said, when asked if his dominant days from 2010-11 are gone. "People are going to think what they want to think. All I can do is try and win the game.
"We have a great team. Certain nights, it's going to be like that, where I have 30 (points) or whatever. I can't play the way people want me to play. They want me to score 40 points every night. If I can score 15 and still win the game, it's a good win for me."
Nets coach Lionel Hollins theorized before Tuesday's game that Rose is working more on his shooting to avoid playing the relentless -- reckless? --attacking style that defined his game before successive, season-ending knee injuries and surgeries.
Whether Hollins -- who referenced former teammate Phil Ford and Kevin Johnson, a player he coached, as doing the same -- was prophetic or pandering is open to debate. After all, there's a reason defenses continue going under screens on Rose; a jumpshooting Rose is far less dangerous than a penetrating one.
But Rose has talked about trying to master even how he falls as he continues a comeback that remains just 22 games in after those ankle and hamstring issues cost him 10 contests.
"I think for sure I'm a smarter player," Rose said. "As far as taking care of my body, picking and choosing during the game, and not overusing myself.
"I haven't really thought about falling or getting injured again. When I start making the shots that I'm taking, it's going to be a real simple game where it's going to be pick your poison. If you're to go under (the screen), I'll shoot. I'm going to force you to go over the screens all the time and put the big (defender) in a tougher situation to guard either me or the roll guy (on pick-and-roll)."
Rose knows he has to shoot better to keep defenses honest. Talk is cheap, but his confidence remains.
"I'm going to have 40-point games, so I'm not worried about (defenders going under screens)," he said. "They're even going under at the free-throw line, so I have to take those shots no matter how many times I miss. I'm just waiting for that game where I have a good one."
Rose had averaged 23.3 points in the four games before this two-game shooting slump. Maybe the wait won't be long. Either way, the best news for the Bulls is he's on the court playing.
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
