After exiting Friday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers with a bad left knee, word soon spread that the Bulls were worried their franchise player had torn his other ACL. As you surely know, Chicago was on edge for quite some time and picturing doomsday scenarios. The basketball gods clearly had it out for the Bulls to allow this to happen to their star twice in less than 19 months.
Saturday evening, we learned an MRI revealed Rose had torn a medial meniscus in that knee. Surgery will be required, which will sideline him indefinitely. He isn't currently slated to miss the rest of the season as previously feared, but it's still bad to lose him for an extended period of time. Worst of all, we don't know if he'll be out for six weeks or six months, which makes you wonder if there will be any Bulls basketball for him to return to by the time he's cleared to play again.
In any other situation, this type of injury would have had Bulls fans jumping off cliffs or parading the streets, preaching that the Rapture is nigh. Given Rose's recent difficulties in staying healthy though, it's actually a sigh of relief for some. At least we won't have to wait until the week before next Thanksgiving to see him play again.
You hear all this talk about the Bulls missing out on another championship run for this season. Still others believe if the team just treads water and plays good enough for the next few months, they might be able to steal one of the top seeds in the East and gain home-court advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs. It's the nature of speculating we have as fans.
As for me, I don't see how the Bulls catch the Pacers in the Central now. That team has too much young talent peaking at the right time while the one here in Chicago can't seem to stay healthy, which was the biggest X factor in contending for this year's championship. I also have a sliver of hope that Rose can help create some magic against the Heat in the playoffs should he return and the teams meet, but he'll probably show some rust like Michael Jordan did in the 1995 playoffs against Orlando. It's tougher to pick against the champs in a Bulls-Heat best-of-7 now than it was 48 hours ago.
There are two big concerns to come from all this, starting with Rose's long-term health. He has three years remaining on his contract and possesses too much talent for the front office to even consider buying him out. And with the health issue not going away for the foreseeable future, the Bulls have to deal with it. By the time he returns from this latest setback, how long before the next one hits? So many parties are going to have to be cautious with him from now on, particularly if his body continues to betray him like this. Perhaps a change in playing style is in order, but Rose would sooner retire tomorrow.
Rose's career may turn out to be less like Steve Nash and more like Grant Hill: dominant early in his career before having that superstardom taken away by contest injuries. Every former MVP who is eligible has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Something needs to change or Rose might be the only one who doesn't get in, which would be a very tough distinction to have for this sport.
That brings up the second concern, which is where the Bulls go from here. This was probably going to be their last season as currently constructed, regardless of Rose's status. Now, Gar Forman and John Paxson could be forced to reevaluate what Rose can bring to the table. His services are definitely needed in Chicago, but that second primary scoring option is desperately needed now.
With this latest development, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer should really be worried about their status on this team. They're going to get paid next year, but it might not be here. Deng's set for free agency and the talk to amnesty Boozer may be more justified
That's because it may be time to consider making Rose a John Stockton: one of the top players in the game, but not one you build your team around. Neither Deng, nor Boozer is fit to be Rose's Karl Malone, so that help will have to come from elsewhere. Who in the league with that capability wants to come to the Windy City though? That question will have to be considered another time, but what can be stated now is Rose might need to adopt a new role if he wants to have a long NBA career.
The other option would be to tear it down and start over. Going younger and thus, healthier wouldn't mean championship aspirations for a few years, but Rose might have to wait a little longer so the right personnel can eventually come along and get him that coveted ring. The franchise's future could depend on how the rest of this season plays out, so these next few months are key.
Although this is close to the worst-case scenario the Bulls envisioned, they should have kept open the possibility this might happen, which they probably did. It sure doesn't make it easier to take though, does it? Those Grant Park plans in June will have to temporarily be shelved so we can see how Rose pans out in The Return II. Perhaps this is the feel-good story of 2014 waiting to happen and this is just the beginning. A green light would be a good sign, but it needs to be found.
As big a blow as this to the Bulls, remember to keep this in perspective. Professional basketball is merely an entertainment outlet, so you can't let it keep you from the important things in life. I learned this the hard way Friday night when I came home from work to learn my grandmother is back in the hospital after just getting out weeks ago. The good news is I found out this morning she'll be fine, but it helps to have a grip on reality. If you had to choose between Rose playing again or a relative surviving a hospital visit, I know you'd choose the latter. I'll pray for both, but I know what's better to have.
all those people who defended Rose not playing in the playoffs last year have no credibility in my book. those people were too stupid too have the foresight and recognition to the fact that Rose still maintained the same risk of injury no matter how long he waited to come back. pretty sure you were one of those people who was in favor of the bulls being cautious with Rose's rehab process and for that your word and reputation as a sports journalist is worth crap and holds no weight in educated sport discussions. so why don't you leave that to people who don't have their heads up their ass, you know people who have experienced life, like gone surfing, skydiving, eating filet minor, lost their virginity, etc. clearly your lack of awareness has clouded your judgment and from this point on, you would only be further embarrassing yourself by writing these senseless blogs trying to comment on things you know nothing about. just accept the fact that you are a nerdy, skinny, pasty, awkward person who knows nothing about sports and cant play them due to physical limitations. You probably cant even beat the computer in Madden on Pro
ReplyDeleteHey Geoffrey. Fuck this^ guy. He is obviously a bully and an idiot who can't even spell filet mignon right let alone string a together an insightful thought. He's clearly jealous you are doing something with your life and trying to make it in a career you love. There are plenty of people that were never the most athletic playing a given sport who are great analysts of the game. The fact that this sad excuse for a person had to take cheap shots at you says more about him than it does about your writing. Keep doing what you love.
ReplyDeletehey Marc, take your receding hairline some place else, ya bow legged bitch. p.s. did I misspell anything that time, tit face?
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