Rose Returns With Team USA, For Chi-Town

Even the biggest Bulls fans have to admit it was a little unusual seeing the United Center packed for basketball in the middle of August.  Nevertheless, there everyone was to see Team USA take on Brazil in the first exhibition before the FIBA World Cup.  Any ticket that promises fans a chance to see some of the basketball players two countries have to offer will practically always draw great interest, but given the nature of those involved in this case, there was a little extra incentive added.

Derrick Rose has become a centerpiece for Team USA, which is exciting enough.  However, this was his first time setting foot on that famed West Side court since tearing his meniscus last November.  There was no way an empty seat would see this one and very little chance of anybody in the house turning his/her back on Rose.  Tweets from the game confirmed Rose got a big cheer during warmups and PA announcer Tommy Edwards was drowned out while introducing the former MVP.  It merely confirmed that there hasn't been a Bull this beloved by the fan base since Michael Jordan.  We know how to treat our stars right.

In the 95-78 U.S. victory, Rose scored just seven points in 24 minutes.  What little impact he had though was memorable.  There was the two-handed slam you see in the above photo and also the coast-to-coast layup off the backboard at the first-half buzzer.  Everybody who was there, including my friend Justin Zipser, will tell you that was gravy on a night that was all about Rose's return to game action in Chicago.

Sure, we could have all that talk about how his performance was minimal at best or question whether he should even be playing right now, especially in the wake of Paul George's devastating injury.  However, this was a night to forget all those negative vibes and just enjoy the native son playing basketball.  While none of us can say whether he'll be back to his old self as everyone says he is or even avoid a third serious injury, we know he's playing in real games right now and this is about as good as a rehabilitation as one can get.  We all know this is really just his tuneup for the NBA season.  Hopefully, U.S. assistant Tom Thibodeau realizes that enough to know how much his star point guard needs to be pushed right now.  To have one more dreadful Rose occurrence on his hands would be a nightmare for him.

As Team USA continues its journey to the world championship, let us continue to pray the Rose we've seen and heard about will be the one on the floor when the NBA reopens its regular schedule in late October.  They say if something seems too good to be true, it often is.  I don't know what we'd do with ourselves if this turned out to be the case.  Stay healthy, Derrick.