Rose continuing to learn game on the fly

 CHICAGO — Several times each game, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro waves Derrick Rose to the sideline for a chat.

On one level, it's just a coach talking to his floor general, sharing some of the knowledge he gleaned from playing guard during his 11-year NBA career.

On another, it goes much deeper than that, a rookie coach and a rookie point guard relying on each other to navigate the countless new experiences both are facing.

"It's about experiencing it, knowing the speed of the game, how to be effective, where you can take advantage of things and being able to recognize those situations," Del Negro said of Rose learning the NBA game. "It sounds easy at times. Believe me, when you're out there as a rookie in the point guard spot having to control the team, it's not.

"But he's one of those guys who will figure it out because he works at it. You have to throw him out of the gym. It makes it a lot easier for me, no question."

If Rose can maintain his averages of 18.9 points, 5.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds, he would join Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Grant Hill, Alvan Adams, Steve Francis and Magic Johnson as the only rookies to average 18, 5 and 5.

Rose's prodigious talent and unique rookie consistency are a big reason the Bulls (5-5) are off to just their third .500-or-better start after 10 games since Jordan left town. To hear Rose tell it, Del Negro deserves credit as well.

"He's always talking to me and making sure I understand the different situations I'm seeing," Rose said. "It feels good knowing that he has my back. He and my teammates are always helping me, teaching me stuff. They're like my big brothers."

That's Rose, whose speed on the court might be matched only by his humility off it. Rose said he's genuinely surprised he's scoring as much as he is. His 23 points in Saturday's victory over the Pacers featured three three-pointers, belying the predraft knock that his outside shooting was suspect.

And there has come a point in almost every game when Rose consciously becomes more aggressive offensively.

"He's getting more comfortable with that," Del Negro said. "I talk to him a lot about that, about time and score and understanding the situation, valuing the possession and valuing the ball. If we run a set and it doesn't go real smooth, get the ball out, run the team, be the quarterback out there, get guys in their spots and then attack.

"As we are together more, he understands that better."

Which is why, coupled with Kirk Hinrich's injury, it's getting harder for Del Negro to pull Rose. The rookie has logged five straight games of 40 or more minutes.

"My biggest thing is having more wins than losses," Rose said. "I wasn't worried about my playing time. Wins was my whole mind-set."

Del Negro didn't bite on a recent question about Rose serving as his security blanket, merely saying he felt better when Rose had the ball. Semantics aside, it's clear Rose, at just 20, has become exactly that.

"My job with him is just to every day let him learn one or two things and let him understand the game a little bit better and try to put him in areas where he can use his athleticism and make decisions for us," Del Negro said. "Guys feed off that."