When Derrick Rose tore his ACL during the final minutes of Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, Chicago Bulls fans were understandably distraught. They knew they would have to wait 9-12 months for their star point guard to return to the court.  As it turned out, Rose would sit the entire 2012-2013 season to rehab his injury, despite much criticism and reports that he would return for the playoffs.  When Rose finally returned to regular season action in Miami this Oct. 29, Bulls fans thought they were finally done waiting.

However, the waiting continues. When will Rose shake off the rust and return to his MVP form? Where is his so-called “improved” jump shot? Why can’t he ever stay healthy? These are all valid questions being raised by Bulls fans after six games and a surprisingly pedestrian 3-3 start.

Rose spent a year and a half rehabbing his injury so that he could come back at 110 percent. So far this year, it seems like he’s been playing at about 60 percent. He just has not been the same player. Some rust is understandable, but the extent to which Rose has been struggling is uncharacteristic for a player of his ability.

When you think of Derrick Rose, you think of an in-your-face, physical player who gets to the free throw line with ease due to his elusiveness and speed. So far this season, this has not been the case. Rose is attempting just 3.3 free throws per game, the lowest mark since his rookie season. Since 2010, the lowest he has averaged is 6.1 per game. Is Rose playing too tentatively? The statistics say no.

If anything, Rose is playing too recklessly. He is averaging 4.8 turnovers per game so far this season, which is 1.5 more than his previous career high. At times, it seems as if Rose is playing too fast on the court and is out of control. He needs to take it slow and let the game come to him. He is one of the most explosive players in the NBA and will naturally make plays. He just needs to be smarter than he has been.

Rose’s high turnover rate has led to an assist-to-turnover ratio that is barely above one. Rose has 27 assists this season to 25 turnovers, a ratio that should improve as the season progresses. He has never had an assist to turnover ratio below 2:1, so history shows that this mark will improve.

Another aspect of Rose’s game that has gotten much attention is his jump shooting. While his speed allows him to get to the rim at will, Rose’s jump shot has always been rather mediocre. He has had just one season in which he has shot better than 33 percent from three-point range and is making just 25 percent of his three-pointers so far this season.

Rose knows this and has opted to drive the ball more often rather than rely on his struggling jump shot. During the Bulls’ Nov. 11 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rose converted 7 of 8 field goals from within 10 feet of the basket. He is best when driving to the basket, though that style of play may not be the best for his health.

Rose’s well-publicized ACL tear occurred on a drive to the basket, and so did a hamstring injury during the final minutes of the game against the Cavaliers. Rose grimaced after finishing an acrobatic layup at the rim and was subsequently removed from the game. Luckily, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau described the injury as “minor” and Rose hopes to not miss any games. Though this injury does not seem to be serious, Rose’s durability is definitely in question. He has played in just 39 games over the last two seasons and is already battling injury not 10 games into this young season. How many more games will Rose’s reckless style of play allow him to endure?

The Bulls, at 3-3, have gotten off to a slow start, but there are 76 more regular season games remaining to get back on track. By far the Bulls most important player, Rose has struggled early on, posting a career high in turnovers per game and a career low in assists per game. Bulls fans waited 17 months as Rose recovered from an ACL tear. That’s long enough. As Thibodeau would say, “The games are coming, and coming fast.”  With conference rivals Indiana (7-0) and Miami (5-3) off to hot starts, Rose better get going.