Clutch Mentality: Welcome to The Club Derrick Rose

In case you've been residing under a rock for the first quarter of the NBA season, there's a new superstar taking the league by storm, and he goes by the name of Derrick Rose. 

This kid is something else

So far, Rose has proven to us just about everything we felt he needed to add to his NBA game. So let's make a quick mental note as to what that was. 

Improve jump-shot - Check

Obtain a reliable 3pt shot - Check

Improve passing/assist numbers - Check

Improve as a defender - Check

And now

Become a clutch player - CHECK

Yes, that's right folks. Rose has finally entered into the upper echelon of the elite in the NBA when it comes to closing games. And no matter what the critics continue to doubt about Rose's game (i.e. John Hollinger A.K.A. Rose's newest hater), there's no denying his NOW clutch ability to put the team on his back and carry them to the victory. 

Tonight proved to me and should prove to you all that Rose has learned to make the right plays and hit the big shots simply off of instinct. Thibodeau after the game said he wasn't responsible for drawing up the play, where Rose hit a huge jumper late in the 4th quarter to put the Bulls up over the Lakers 85-80. No, Rose read the defense and reacted accordingly, and thanks to a much improved jumper, was able to knock down the tough shot. 

This was the second straight night that Rose has put the team on his back in the final moments. In the Bulls last game prior to the Lakers, the Bulls almost dropped an embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final seconds, until Rose put them on his back, made a couple of huge plays, and saved the Bulls from an terrible defeat. 

He did it again, only this time, it was against the defending champs of the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers. In what was a huge win for the Bulls, Rose knew he needed to step up and make plays and that's what he did. 

Only a quarter into the season, and Rose has had some major clutch moments, most notably the buzzer beater at the end of the Rockets/Bulls game to push it into overtime, and then seal the deal in the extra period with the win. 

The scary part is, he's only going to get better. Rose will be hitting gamewinners before we know it, because as Stacey King once said "Big time players make big time plays."

And Rose is certainly now a big time player...who makes big time plays.  

Daisy Fuentes Asia Argento Charisma Carpenter Hilarie Burton Kelly Carlson