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On a team that's almost as deep as teams can go in the NBA, Rose has forced his way into an important niche: As the No. 1 scorer off the bench on maybe the best team in the Eastern Conference.
The former Fab Fiver from Michigan, wrapping up his fifth year in the league, has become the Pacers' not-so-secret weapon, an explosive scorer who also plays smothering defense. He is, arguably, the best sixth man in the business.
Rose averaged 11.1 points a game during the regular season and has upped that during the playoffs, averaging 13.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in about 28 minutes of play.
He's been especially tough in the first games of the Pacers' two series this postseason. In Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, he had 24 points in 27 minutes (on 9-of-10 shooting). And in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, he scored 27 points in 30 minutes.
But he's not all about scoring. He led the team in steals this season, averaging more than one a game despite the fact he averaged barely 25 minutes a game.
Rose shares time with veteran Chris Mullin, and Indiana coach Larry Bird has said he'll go with the experience at the end of the game. But you can be sure -- Rose will get his minutes.
And, if he keeps playing the way he has in the Pacers' first two series, don't be surprised if the Pacers -- all of them, especially Rose -- are standing tall at the end of this season.
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Rose is averaging 13.4 points a game in the playoffs. 