When evaluating talent at the highest levels of basketball the numbers, measurements and statistics only tell you so much. With bright young stars like Chicago Bulls rookie point guard Derrick Rose, it is the subtleties and nuances of their games, many of which go unnoticed at first glance or undocumented in the stat line, that separate them from the rest of the field.

At first look in Wednesday's game against Milwaukee, Rose's 18 points, 9 assists in 43 minutes are just another in a typically impressive stat line for the potential Rookie of the Year. But come in a little closer and it's the things he does that don't necessarily have a stat column that make you appreciate just how good he is.

Just watching a few possession in the first quarter tells you all you need to know about Rose's talent and potential.

Situation #1: Chasing Richard Jefferson on the break

RJ was ahead of the field on the right side with Rose chasing from behind and on Jefferson's left. In this situation, most guards or smaller players will attempt a "run through" in which they run in front of the offensive player to try and strip the ball as they go by. Jefferson anticipated this and prepared for the swipe. However, Rose crossed up RJ by running through and turning his back with his hands up, which completely disrupted his rhythm. As Jefferson brought the ball high to avoid what he thought would be a strip attempt down low, Rose was still there with his body and hands – just kind of in the way. Jefferson missed the shot, a talented veteran outsmarted by an even more talented rookie.

Situation #2: Driving to the basket on Luke Ridnour

In almost a reverse of the above situation, Rose drove right with Ridnour on his left, riding his inside hip. Rose, anticipating Ridnour's move, used his body to shield the ball, kept the ball high, away and slightly behind, to prevent a run through or any attempt by the smaller Ridnour to repeat Rose's defensive play on Jefferson. Rose prepared for a number of defensive tactics and was able to finish the play, while Jefferson only anticipated one and guessed wrong.

Situation #3: Feed to Ben Gordon on the curl cut for the jumper

Quarterbacking the Bulls offense from the top of the key, Ben Gordon came off a down screen on the right side, and reading his defender "trailing" him, ran a tight curl into the lane. Often times, even from some of the best passers in the NBA, this pass is late or slightly behind the cutter, which forces the cutter to slow down or reach back for the ball. This disrupts his rhythm, allows the trail defender to get back into the play, or becomes a turnover. In this case, Rose hit Gordon with a perfect bounce pass in front of Gordon's lead shoulder, which allowed Gordon to continue his move at full speed, separate from his defender, and score easily. Just an assist? Hardly. How about as perfect pass as you can make – right out of the textbook, and right out of the hands of a rookie.

Situation #4: Lobs and assists to Deng and Thomas

Rose has gotten to the point where he knows he can get to the hole and get his points against just about anybody. He clearly could have done so in his matchup with the smaller, slighter Ridnour. But, he also recognizes that teams will begin scheming for his drives, as Milwaukee did. Rather than try to force the action, Rose made it a point early on to get the struggling Luol Deng going, starting the game 3-for-3 including a lob for a dunk. When Tyrus Thomas checked into the game later in the quarter, Rose got him a lob dunk right away, as well as a kick to the corner for a jumper. Rose recognized the situation and did not aggressively drive into trouble. It wasn't about the assists – it was about his conscious choice to avoid that trap and to get his teammates going. Those are All-Star kinds of decisions.

For all of the statistics, which are impressive, and the superlatives, which are deserved, Rose also has all of the subtle, intangible factors that make a young rookie one of the potential great players in the league. Learning when to lead and when to defer, when to take over and when to get his teammates going - those are the skills that come with time. And those are the attributes of a championship point guard.

Rose has already shown signs those skills have improved in just five weeks of his climb up the NBA mountain. In five years, we may very well see him standing at the top.