Trying to predict how Derrick Rose is going to perform from one game to the next is an exercise in futility because Rose himself has no idea.
"Nobody knows what to expect because I don't know what to expect," Rose said in a media session Friday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "It's kind of like predicting weather, nobody knows.
"All I know is that I prepare myself well and I have a lot of confidence in myself."
Rose had an up-and-down season, which was interrupted for six weeks from late February to early April due to his second right meniscus surgery in as many years. He returned to play five uneven games to close out the regular season.
In the playoffs thus far, he's been a different animal. He's discovered his shooting stroke, shredded the Milwaukee Bucks defense and led his Chicago Bulls to a 3-0 series lead. In those three games, he averaged 24 points, four rebounds, eight assists and two steals, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
The capper was his Game 3 masterpiece, in which he went off for 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting, marking his highest scoring output since he tore his ACL in the first game of the playoffs three years ago.
Rose said that one of the keys to his resurgence is that he's learned to play smarter and more in control.
"That old, young reckless player that you saw years ago, he's not there anymore," he said.
Rose was also asked how he remained so confident, despite the seemingly interminable parade of injuries and setbacks, and despite the fact so many others seemed content to write him off.
"Nobody knows how hard I worked," he said. "That's the fun thing about it. That's the exciting thing about it."
