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Bulls Tue Feb 14 2012
Disaster Averted? MRI on Rose's Back is Clean
After missing two games in a row due to back spasms, Derrick Rose made a visit to a back specialist who says his problems are muscular, not structural. Ultimately, that's good news, but it doesn't mean Rose is back in the game just yet.
General manager Gar Forman says Rose will play when he feels he's ready, but that isn't looking likely for Tuesday's game against Sacramento. Rose suffered back spasms in high school as well which would go as suddenly as they had come. In the meantime, he will continue with therapy and rest and hope the spasms will pass.
Rose is a competitive player, and of course will always want to be on that court, which is one of the things we all love about him. However, we also love his ability to score and keep the Bulls in tough games, which won't be the case if he plays before he's ready. Forman seems confident that for now at least, Rose understands that he needs to be 100 percent before he jumps back in.
Despite Sunday's Rose-less loss against the Celtics, we must remember that Derrick Rose is not the only scorer, and not the only talented player the Bulls have. While he is of course an important player and a huge asset, the team should be able to balance the responsibility, which the Bulls have proven capable of this season throughout most of his seven missed games - more than in his first three seasons combined.
The bench has been strong but they've been playing like backups, when in truth, these injuries have put them in starting positions. Without Rose tonight, C.J. Watson will need to bring a more consistent shooting game against a challenging backcourt.
It's a big game for the Bulls coaching staff, as winning could clinche their position as East Conference All Stars. The Heat is just a half-a-game away after defeating Milwaukee on Monday. If they win, the Bulls will need a win against Sacramento to secure the All Star coaching spot. If the Heat loses, Thibs will be heading to Orlando no matter what.
