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By Thomas Tyler

Bill Cartwright shocked many in New Orleans when he temporarily benched Rose and Crawford. Had they lost, many more would have been screaming for him to go, but instead they played one of the best games in years. After the game, the true personalities of Rose and Crawford began to show. Did they celebrate the victory with the team like professionals? No. They whined and complained, prompting a closed-door meeting with Paxson to try and calm things down. The team is supposed to be everyone’s priority, but these two have are making it clear that their priorities are not in order.

What these two selfish individual need to do is look at how good and courageous a move this was. Were they disrespected and made the scapegoats for the embarrassing start? No. This move served notice to every player on the roster: either play within the system and produce or you sit. Rose, Crawford and the rest of the team responded on the court exactly the way the coach had hoped they would; they got mad and produced on both ends of the court. Rose says it is his team, and Crawford says that as the starting point guard, he has to be the one to get things started. The fact is, neither have lived up to their responsibilities to the team. Rose had struggled with his shot this season and all of last, until the benching. Crawford has never shot consistently in his entire career, but is never afraid to launch them.

Rose believes that he has earned the right to have “bad” games and is a proven starter, therefore disrespected by coming off the bench. As the team's “leader” and co-captain, he should be setting the example by saying, we all need to sacrifice for the good of them team. His crying about a temporary coach's decision just shows his lack of leadership. He will make over 15 million this season. Doesn’t the organization signing his pay check have the right to expect some production? The fact is, Rose has gotten too comfortable in his position. He views himself as being bigger than the team. Right now, at least. And that needs to change.

Crawford believes the Bulls don’t want him to stay and he has never been given a real chance. It is ironic that he came up with the team’s “no excuses” slogan, when no one has more ready made excuses for failure than he has. His first season, Floyd didn’t like him, so he wasn’t given a chance. His second season he was injured and should be applauded for working hard to get back as soon as he did. Last year he couldn’t get into a rhythm because he was constantly expecting to be pulled for Jay Williams. If he could come up with half as many defensive stops as he can reasons for failing, he would be mentioned in the same context as Payton. The only person he can blame this season is himself.

The future is bright, however. Jamal Crawford is as talented as his biggest supporters have said he is. Jalen Rose has always been talented. If the current attitude issues these two appear to have can be twisted in a positive direction then I won't have to write articles like this too often.