Last night the Chicago Bulls were the rare victims of an ugly loss. It was at home no less, and it saw Denver Nuggets’ point guard Ty Lawson running wild and free en route to 27 points in a 108-91 win. This is the sort of game that makes Derrick Rose’s absence — seven straight and counting due to that lingering groin injury — felt all the more. With word that it could be a while still until Rose’s return, no one seems more restless than the M.V.P. basketball machine himself.
Via ProBasketballTalk and Aggrey Sam:
“Right when I feel that I’m ready, I’m going to go out there and play, no matter who says whatever… The call is up to me and right when I feel like I’m 100 percent or close to it, I’m going to go out there and play.”
Now because of Rose’s respect for coach Tom Thibodeau this does seem a bit like tough talk in that Thibs is going to do what’s best for Rose and the team big picture-wise, and it’s unclear how soon Rose could sneak on the floor without Thibodeau being comfortable in letting him loose full-bore. But it appears (not surprisingly) the lobbying — indirect and otherwise — has long since started, as Rose’s frustrations with sitting out, especially following a loss like the Denver one, are clear and understandable, although not worth abiding to right now.
As much it as makes sense for Rose and everything we know about his hyper-intense and skinny tie-narrow focus on the game and conquering it, a rushed return’s upside does not outweigh the potential pitfalls. As much as we rush to applaud athletes for playing hurt and being in the trenches with teammates (it’s not hard to imagine many in the NBA of Rose’s stature ignoring their bodies this season in favor of the team), this example of “toughing it out” would not be wise. Because even though of course the Bulls will always need him, they really don’t need him right now.
Thanks in part to the Miami Heat’s recent woes, Chicago, with its ability to grind through most games with whomever’s on the floor, holds a 3.5 game lead for tops in the Eastern Conference. Their lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder for the league’s best record is a bit more tenuous at only one game, but allowing Rose back early for that could be forcing things right now; it’s unclear how the standings will look closer to the season’s end when Rose will likely be healthier, and still with time to make a difference.
Given the situation it comes down to this: Derrick Rose, as far as how badly he wants to be back on the court is concerned, is too important for his own good. As one of the mega-talents in this league, though he doesn’t believe he’s always properly treated like one, and even as incredibly consistent as the Bulls have been without him this season, Rose’s value to his team is the difference between championship contender and tough out in the playoffs.
Now, no one in their right mind should think Rose will miss any amount of postseason action, as that’s what all this rest is for now and, more importantly, the Bulls just aren’t going to chance it even if he cross-his-heart promises that he’ll be fine. Groin injuries seem to take forever to fully go away, and any pain Rose has to endure might as well come when the stakes equal the risk. Rose’s growing impatience with not playing ball will still have plenty of time to exorcise itself, even if he has to wait a bit longer.
Griffin Gotta contributes to The Hoop Doctors and is a co-managing editor of Straight Outta Vancouver. The story arcs and infinite weirdness of the NBA are addictions he deals with every day. Email him at griffingotta at gmail dot com.
