This rook had all the moves
Rajon Rondo parked himself in a chair in front of a flat-screen television yesterday morning for a long, intense look at the tape of a St. Patrick's Day loss at Chicago. The Celtics point guard was focused on two things.
"Our team and Derrick," Rondo said.
The Derrick that Rondo was speaking of goes by the last name of Rose. And if you're a Celtics fan who didn't know about this Chicago Bulls rookie before yesterday, you surely know his name now. He had his NBA coming-out party in a 105-103 overtime victory over the defending champions in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at TD Banknorth Garden.
Wearing No. 1, Rose finished with a game- and career-high 36 points, sank all 12 free throw attempts, dished out 11 assists, and added a steal in 49 minutes before fouling out. All this in the playoff debut for the No. 1 pick of the 2008 NBA draft.
Rose tied the rookie debut playoff scoring record set by Milwaukee's Lew Alcindor back on March 25, 1970, against Philadelphia.
Hey Boston, say hello to the next NBA superstar. Derrick Martell Rose.
"If people aren't familiar with Derrick Rose, they're not basketball fans," Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. "The kid has been just phenomenal all season.
"He was fantastic; he is such a huge part of what we do."
Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers simply: "Rose was fantastic."
Rose is an overwhelming favorite for the Rookie of the Year award after averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds for his hometown team.
He has been in countless big games already, winning back-to-back Illinois state titles in high school, and playing in the
But none of that compares with facing the champion Celtics at the Garden in your NBA playoff debut.
Looking for some encouragement, Rose turned to his agent, B.J. Armstrong, the former Chicago point guard.
"I just told him to go out there and play, enjoy yourself," said Armstrong. "Have a good experience."
Said Rose, "He told me the first five minutes to go out and play like you want to be there. It's hard playing in the Garden, especially playing with the fans. He told me to just go out and play aggressive. My team followed me."
The Bulls indeed followed the 20-year-old from the opening tip, as he threw an alley-oop pass to Joakim Noah 24 seconds into the game. Nerves gone.
It was clear from the start that he was a rookie only in classification.
"I want all the pressure," Rose said. "They were saying I was a rookie, I can't lead the team."
With one of the NBA's best defenders in Rondo challenging him on the other end, it was far from easy for Rose. And vice versa.
Rondo starred for the Celtics with 29 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block in 44 minutes. But Rose made great pass after great pass, knocked down mid-range jumper after mid-range jumper, earned 3-point plays, and took the ball strong to the hole. He also nailed two free throws with 9.4 seconds left in regulation to save the game for Chicago.
"He's one of the toughest guards to stay in front of," Rondo said. "He's definitely quick, and he also uses his strength to elevate myself and our bigs. And he finished at the rim extremely well. And when he got fouled, he knocked down his shots. So he played a great floor game.
"He created mismatches on the other end of the floor defensively."
Said Rose on Rondo, "He's good. He's a player that I looked up to when I was at Memphis. He has everything. He can shoot the ball. He gives the ball to his teammates if they're open. He penetrates, rebounds. Whatever he wants, he can give it to you."
Rondo ended Rose's night by causing him to commit his sixth foul with 10.3 seconds remaining in OT. But Rose got the last laugh in what could be the first of many big battles between these two young point guards.
"They are both such great athletes," said Del Negro. "We have to pay so much attention to [Paul] Pierce and Ray [Allen] that Rondo can create and make things happen. Derrick is just starting his career, too. They're both young, athletic, and explosive guys."
Rose is an NBA team's dream. He listens to his coaches. He's a "yes sir, no sir" kind of guy. He learned the importance of being humble from his mother. But he's also a competitor, a confident leader, even though he's too young to buy a beer.
"He came out and asserted himself continually with the team," said Armstrong. "He got settled in. From the point guard position, he can put himself in a position to win. I thought he played very well."
Said Rose: "I played decent enough where we got the victory. We just got to keep it going."
An NBA star is born. Unfortunately for the Celtics, he was born against them.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com 
