Basketball is a Brotherhood

Hailing from Maryland, Indiana, Arizona and China this group of NBA Draft picks are destined for greatness. Check in on NBA rooks: Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Jerryd Bayless and Sun Yue as they Command and Create for their new Brotherhoods. Follow their journey with the Rookiehood blog only from adidas. View allDerrick Rose Q&A

adidas: This has been your first long season -- how are you feeling coming into the playoffs?

Derrick Rose: The NBA season is so long. You really have no idea until you go through it. College doesn't even come close to the amount of games and travel that you go through as an NBA player. I'm still focused on team goals though, and will do anything I can to achieve them.

adidas: What role does Brotherhood play at this point of the season?

Rose: Brotherhood plays a strong role. Guys are worn out, tired, bodies hurting. This is the time when we have to come together, as Brothers, and really make a push for the playoffs. We continue to sacrifice ourselves in the name of our team.

adidas: Do you relish going up against the same teams, potentially, seven games each? Does it get tougher when teams know each other so well?

Rose: As a little kid, this is what I always dreamed about. This is it. This is as good as it gets. Playing in a playoff series is something you have to adjust to. Facing a team seven times is tough because they know your game and how you play, but being able to adjust and strategize, on-the-fly, is exciting.

adidas: You might have the unenviable spot of facing a No. 1 seed right out of the gate. Does that concern you, or will is it just business as usual?

Rose: Right now we're just focusing on trying to make the playoffs. If we get there, we'll worry about who our opponent is. That's the only way you can approach it. We've just got to do our job now, and be concerned with the present.

adidas: Will a strong playoff run cap your brilliant rookie season -- or do you think you've already proven yourself to the league and the fans?

Rose: I would love to make a deep run in the playoffs, and I think truly great players have success in the playoffs. I'm always trying to prove myself as a player -- I'll never stop -- and just because I've had a decent rookie year doesn't mean I have accomplished anything, especially when it comes to my Brotherhood. I'm more concerned about team than me.

adidas: You're a rookie -- but also a team leader coming into the playoffs, do you embrace that responsibility?

Rose: People who know me know that I don't talk a lot on the court. I try and let my game speak for me, and my actions lead.

Born into the most famous city in the world. From local High School hero to leading a Westwood Tradition in March to achieving the dream of wearing the iconic Purple and Gold of LA. This is LA by Jordan Farmar. LA's first son shares his Brotherood moments all season long. HOMEGROWN only from adidas. View allDate: May 18, 2009
Laker Legacy

Being a part of the Lakers' legacy is a blessing. As an L.A. native, I grew up watching the Lakers battle it out every season, and I fell in love with the team. I've been in a unique position to experience basketball on all levels in my hometown, and it's ultimately led me to love and appreciate this city even more. The fans always have our backs, even when we're going through rough patches. During the playoffs, we have to bring it every time, and the fans not only recognize that, but they do it too. I love playing in front of our fans because their energy helps us perform at the highest level possible. It's great to close out a series with a home win.

Date: May 8, 2009
My Mindset, My Team's Mindset

Before big games, I try to relax and get in the zone. Pre-game naps are a must. I have to make sure that my body is well-rested so I can perform at the best of my abilities every game. After getting some shots up, I go back to the locker room, chill by listening to music, and get my mind right for the task at hand. After that, as soon as I slip my jersey on, it's game time. I think everyone on the Lakers is in a really good place mentally. Our leaders have a lot of Playoff experience, and that's going to help our Brotherhood out when the game is on the line. We're also blessed to be more or less injury free as a team right now, which really counts.

Date: May 6, 2009
Playoff Wars

Coming into the Playoffs as the defending champs and the No. 1 seed in the West this year has put us in a great spot to be successful. Last year we didn't finish out the year the way we wanted to, so this year, it's time to take care of business. Playing a series isn't necessarily tougher when teams know each other very well, but it does become a mental as well as physical game. Any team has the potential to get lucky and beat anyone once, but beating them four times in a series takes more than luck. Besides being on physically, it takes mental toughness, teamwork and determination. Our Brotherhood is solid with all of these elements, so I'm confident that we will end the season the way we want to this time around.

Date: December 18, 2008
Off the court

Being an athlete there is a lot of work, but also a lot of downtime. During the time you're not working on your game, rest is a very important key to success. People tend to forget that we are people too, that we have bills to pay, appointments to keep, family to see, etc. and that is where time management is very important. I'm very fortunate that I got to stay in L.A. and all the people close to me are here in the same city. I'm a real homebody and just a huge sports fan in general, so staying home and watching whatever sport is in season is always an option. Keeping track on my opponents and doing my homework on them is always something I really enjoy.

My coach at UCLA Ben Howland was very big on teaching preparation and how much better your chances for success are if you're more prepared than your opponent, so that's something that's always stuck with me. I'm a big movie buff. I like to go and check out all the new movies coming out, and I guess growing up here in Hollywood there's something about the cameras that attract me towards them. Other than that, I'm just a regular 21 year old kid. I have my friends and family that I like to be with, head over to UCLA every now and then and check on my Bruin family, and the rest of the time is spent with my Lakers family, my brotherhood!