The team/coaching staff spent the entire summer thinking he was the answer at point guard. And then in the first real game of the season he couldn't dribble past half court and the plan went to crap. You gotta play better teams to see what you have and what you gotta change.
Rose knows he is on the hot seat and doesn't have any capital left with the fans- so 27 wins against garbage teams is better than 17 against a tough schedule. That's why the schedule is the way it is.