Charles Barkley weighs in on Derrick Rose; Joakim Noah thinks people should chill [video]

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has been a hot-button topic this week. The former MVP recently stated that he sits out games because he’s concerned about his health beyond his playing days. Rose had the opportunity to clarify those statements with in an interview with Rachel Nichols.

Rose then added more flame to the fire by stating that he didn’t care if people didn’t understand the context of what he said. Thursday night on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaw weighed in on those comments. Barkely said Rose’s statement was “dumb”

Per CSN Chicago:

“I think he’s a lightning rod right now,” Thibodeau said. “The same people that were praising him [his] MVP year are the ones that are criticizing him now, and when he starts playing great again will be the same people praising him again.

“For him [Rose], don’t get wrapped up whether it’s criticism or praise,” Thibodeau continued. “Don’t get wrapped up in either one of those things. The only person he really has to answer to is himself. Knowing that you have put everything you have into each and every day, given everything you have to the team to win. That’s all you can do, once you do that you should be good. You should never feel any pressure or anything for that matter. Just commit to the team and winning. When he does that it’ll work out fine.”

Joakim Noah’s words were a bit more direct to the people critiquing Rose, “chill the f**k out”

“Every time something happens to him, people act like it’s the end of the world,” Noah said. “And that’s f—ing so lame to me. Relax. Like, OK, he’s coming back from two crazy surgeries. Obviously we’re being conservative with him, and when things aren’t going right, he’s got to listen to his body more than anybody. So everybody needs to chill the f— out. I mean, I’m sorry for cursing, but I’m really passionate. I don’t like to see him down. And he doesn’t say that he’s down, but I don’t like it when, like, people portray him and judge him. ‘Cause it’s not fair to him. It’s not.”

Rose tweaked his hamstring in the Bulls win over The Toronto Raptors last night.

I think the problem with Rose is that he’s not the most articulate guy. But we aren’t in a time where you can avoid speaking to the media. Especially if you want to keep those marketing and endorsement dollars rolling in. Ultimate I believe in his mind, he’s talking an approach like Spurs head coach Gregg Popavich takes with his older players. Or even Coach Spolestra with Dwyane Wade. Take some of the games off to save Rose for the playoffs and beyond.

Some people don’t feel that’s being true to the competitive spirit of the sport.

spotted at Slam