CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau shares many words of advice with star guard Derrick Rose on a daily basis, but he’s been using one more than any other as of late.
Thibodeau has stressed for Rose to attack.
“He’s got to attack,” Thibodeau said after practice on Tuesday. “That’s the bottom line. Some teams are going under [picks] and some teams will adjust to a blitz. All I know is when he’s pushing the ball up the floor and attacking, that’s who he is. He can’t defer. He can’t pace himself. He’s got to go. That’s the big thing. He’s got to go.”
Rose established himself in the NBA and won an MVP trophy by attacking. He attempted more shots in the paint than from midrange or from 3-point range during each of his first five NBA seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Rose has now shown a preference for stopping this season.
He’s opted to pull up for a 3-pointer 45.5 percent of the time, compared to attempting 40.3 percent of his shots inside the paint through 12 games. It’s the first time in his career he’s averaging more 3-point attempts than interior ones. He’s never attempted more than 28.7 percent of his shots from 3-point range in any previous season. During his 2010-11 MVP season, he shot 47.9 percent of the time from inside the paint and 24.1 percent from 3-point range.
Rose admitted Monday he was aware of his increased 3-point attempts, but didn’t see it as an issue. 
“I’m taking a lot, but I feel like that’s an easy shot for me, a set shot,” Rose said on Monday. “I’m going to have a game where I’ll string in four or five of them, and it’s just going to help my confidence. I can’t stop taking those shots. They’re shots I normally take in practice, so my teammates know they’re great shots for me. It’s just, I haven’t hit four or five in a game yet.”
Rose’s outside shots have had mixed results this season. He’s made 21 of 70 3-pointers. He’s been especially active from deep in the past five games and has gone 11-of-38 during that span. He’s a career .311 3-point shooter.
Rose also explained his lack of driving has had to do with taking what defenses have been giving him.
“I mean, it’s different,” Rose said. “They’re playing me different. It’s more like, when I’ve got the ball, if I have a pick-and-roll, they’re going to send two people on me up top to pass the ball, or play a contain-type trap where there are people on me and they’re going to make sure someone’s always contesting me at the rim like [Andrew] Bogut was last game. I’ve just got to learn how to score with two people actually being on me whenever I drive and make sure I learn how to get fouled and how to get a good shot up.”
Thibodeau has been patient with Rose as he’s settled back into playing this season coming off multiple injuries. Thibodeau has been taking the same approach with Rose’s attacking.
“It’s going to take time,” Thibodeau said. “We knew that. He’s stringing games together. The last two days in practice, he has been terrific. Those are all great signs. I just want him to keep building, get better day by day. Concentrate on improvement. Don’t overthink it. Get out there and play, attack, be aggressive.
“We talk every day. I’m not going to measure every play. It’s an instinctive game. We have to trust him. But I know when he has played well this year, he’s been in attack mode.”
I don't know why the bulls won't sit him until he's 100% then limit his mins you have 3 other bigs
The nets fukkin suck and they runnin the bulls and have 7 rebounds to the bulls 0
