The Chicago Bulls would have needed the version of Derrick Rose that was named the NBA's MVP last season to make a run at advancing through the NBA Playoffs and through to the championship this year. What they had was an injury-riddled point guard and, after an uber-unfortunate tearing of his ACL against the Philadelphia 76ers, it seems as though it might be awhile until that Rose returns -- if ever.
Derrick Rose May Struggle To Return To Form Following ACL Injury, Surgery
Rose had surgery on Saturday and, during a press conference held by the Bulls on Tuesday, news emanated that the timetable for the former Rookie of the Year to return is next January at best (and in time for the 2013-14 season at worst). A story in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun Times indicates that Rose probably won’t be as good as he once was, however, even when he’s cleared by doctors to return to basketball.
If Derrick Rose returns next season, it’s unlikely he’ll be the player he was before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee April 28.
That’s if he returns. The doctor who performed the successful surgery to repair Rose’s isolated ACL tear and a meniscus tear Saturday morning at Rush University Medical Center said some athletes take longer to recover for reasons that can be physiological as well as psychological.
“There’s no question that happens,” Dr. Brian Cole said. “People ask why don’t you get back to pre-injury level. In some cases, there’s just a level of confidence that they just don’t get, which is why we emphasize it so much during rehab, to help train an individual that it’s safe to do this.”
Hopefully Rose is able to return to form as soon as possible, but it doesn’t sound as though we’ll be seeing him at full-strength as soon as we’d like.
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