Derrick Rose “mentally preparing” for 2013-2014 preseason schedule
After a 2012-2013 season full of rehabilitating and mentally preparing, Chicago Bulls’ point guard Derrick Rose is officially setting the timetable for his triumphant return to the floor. Rose hopes that by this fall, he will be mentally prepared to play in the preseason.
Since being cleared in March by team doctors physically, Rose was forced to work on his mental issues for the last two months of the 2012-2013 season. He continually expressed his desire to get back on the court “at some point” during the season, but he failed to log a single minute, despite the Bulls playing their arch-nemesis Miami Heat.
This summer, Rose will continue to exercise his mind and build the mental strength needed to compete at the highest level. The mental exercise programs he will go through is said to be similar to SAT preparation courses that high schoolers take. In an ironic twist, this will be the first time Rose will study in this manner, as he had his SAT taken for him while attending Simeon H…
View full post on Yardbarker: NBA
Beal: Derrick Rose is scared
Derrick Rose’s decision to sit out the entire year has caused Washington Wizards first-round pick Bradley Beal to lose respect for the Chicago Bulls guard.
View full post on Yardbarker: NBA
Derrick Rose Can’t Be Too Happy About What Bradley Beal Had to Say
Everybody has an opinion on the season that wasn’t for Derrick Rose. But it seems like whenever a basketball player talks to a local radio station, he’s asked to offer his opinion, which is what happened with Bradley Beal.
This has been one of the most unusual situations surrounding an injury that we’ve seen in a while. Rose was medically cleared to play, but he never felt confident enough to return to the court, leading to a constant back-and-forth about whether or not he would end up playing.
The Chicago Bulls’ season ended after the Miami Heat knocked them out of the playoffs. That was the end of the speculation, but it was hardly the end of the interest in everything that’s gone on with Rose.
Beal appeared on a Washington-based radio show and was asked his opinion on Rose not playing this season. Per Sarah Kogod of the Washington Post, he said:
That’s hard, because I’ve never experienced that injury. And I know what type of injury that is, it’s possible it’s gonna happen again. Knock on wood. But at the same time, you might have to give it a go. If you’re practicing for two months and everybody in practice is saying you’re practicing well, I figure you gotta give it a shot in a game.
But it’s his decision. I can’t really have a say so in it. If he doesn’t feel he’s mentally confident to be able to go out there and help the team, I guess I can’t really blame him for it.
Beal was then asked whether or not he would lose respect for a player who sat out despite being medically cleared to play:
A little bit. Yeah, I would. The type of player he is, and the mentality and competitiveness that he has, I think he would have gave it a go. I don’t know what was holding him back. I think he’s scared it’s probably going to happen again and he won’t be the same. But you’re never the same after an injury. But you just have to fight through it and do something else to be able to impact the game. I’m not sure what it is he has to do. I really can’t speak for him.
So, was Beal right to call Rose scared?
There had to be more than doubt in Rose’s mind that kept him from getting back on the court after doctors told him that he was good to go.
This seems like one of those situations where we’re never truly going to know what Rose’s mentality was throughout the season, so the conversation will continue until we hear something from Rose himself.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler Can Become a Jordan/Pippen Duo for Chicago
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were the greatest duo to ever play in the NBA in this writer’s opinion.
Can Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler attain the same heights for the Chicago Bulls?
Over his career, Jordan averaged 30.1 points and shot 49.7 percent from the field. (Source: NBA.com)
Pippen averaged 16.1 points and shot 47.3 percent from the field. (Source NBA.com)
Sure, Jordan is the star of the highlight reels, but watch closely and you’ll see that the reason he’s in those highlights is because Pippen helped make the plays happen.
Rose is an NBA MVP, an All-Star and a team leader. Yes, he missed the 2012-13 season with an ACL injury, but Rose will return and still has a lot to prove.
There was a bright spot to Rose missing the 2012-13 season. Butler stepped up and showed that he can be a reliable, aggressive and dependable player.
According to NBA.com in the regular season, Butler averaged 8.6 points, four rebounds and shot 46.7 percent from the field.
In the 2013 NBA playoffs, Butler averaged 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and shot 43.5 percent from the field.
Those numbers are on par with some of the NBA’s elite.
According to NBA.com in the 2011-12 season, Rose averaged 21.8 points, 7.9 assists and shot 43.5 percent from the field.
Throughout Rose’s career with the Chicago Bulls, he has never had a teammate who he can consistently rely on to hit long range jump shots, or drive to the rim.
If the Chicago Bulls move Butler to the 2 position, which he played well throughout the season and playoffs, Butler and Rose can build a strong chemistry together.
Yes, they both need to stay healthy, but both players are young and have long NBA careers in front of them.
The Bulls could trade Boozer, Deng or both and go after a player like Kevin Love, but what if they simply stay the course?
The starting lineup of Rose, Butler, Deng, Boozer and Noah with Rose and Butler at the core, can compete against, and beat, any team in the NBA.
Of course, and I’ll admit it, it’s very early in Butler’s career to begin comparing him to an NBA Hall of Famer like Pippen. Rose still has a lot to prove before he can be held in the same light as Jordan.
However, looking at the chemistry of these players, the coaching staff and their impact on the team, it’s entirely possible that Rose and Butler can lead the Chicago Bulls to the promised land.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
A Look Inside Derrick Rose’s Fake Gmail Inbox
Derrick Rose has mail.
Lots of mail, actually. More than Tom Hanks. And if you’ve ever wondered what lies inside that treasure chest of an inbox of his, look no further.
Beyond the Buzzer tweeted a totally fake, but equally realistic picture of what the Chicago Bulls superstar’s inbox looked like.
Almost needless to say (but not quite), this is absolutely amazing. Just hysterical. And a total violation of Rose’s privacy.
It seems he has a deluge of well-known correspondents, though, so let’s run through them, shall we?
Coach Tom Thibodeau appears to he hassling Rose on a daily basis, asking him the same question—Can you play?—we’ve all been asking him since March.
Then there’s Robert Griffin III, broadcasting how well his recovery is going. He was nice enough ask Rose how he was faring as well, even though we all know there haven’t been any real updates for quite some time.
Joakim Noah provides Rose with a nice change of pace, shifting the topic of discussion from the point guard’s injury to the league’s doping policies. Hopefully David Stern and the NBA don’t see that one before Game 5, or the Bulls might be down another player (kidding).
Unlike Noah, Nate Robinson didn’t want to talk about illegal substances. And unlike most of Chicago, he was kind enough to thank Rose for his absence.
We all probably wouldn’t be watching as much of Lil Nate had Rose opted to play. No word yet on whether or not he CCed Kirk Hinrich on that same email, though.
Bulls team physician Dr. Brian Cole makes a cameo as well, sending out an “Are you there???” type plea.
Rose doesn’t appear to have acknowledged any of his previous ones. You know, the messages he’s sent since March, telling Rose he’s cleared to play.
Just like Dr. Cole doesn’t like to be avoided, neither do the fans of Chicago. All Rose need do is ask Jay Cutler. Well, he actually doesn’t have to. Cutler got to him first and recommended that he play up his injury. Perhaps it’s time Rose went back to sporting crutches.
No Rose inbox would be complete, however, without an email from LeBron James, who reminds him that even if he played, the Miami Heat would still win. That’s highly insulting, but slightly reassuring (for Rose).
Why play if you’re going to lose anyway? Thanks, ‘Bron.
For those who still blame Coach Thibs for leaving Rose in the game too long last April when he tore his left ACL, you definitely want to turn your attention to the email from Adidas.
Rose’s injury may have been inevitable, because from what we can see, their shoes cause “serious injury.” And here Rose has a lifetime contract with them. Yikes.
Michael Jordan didn’t help things. He dropped Rose a not-so-kind line to let him know he sucks and that His Airness in the best.
I’m assuming he’s referring to Jordan the player and not Jordan the owner. Charlotte Bobcats fans would have a great deal to say about that last one.
Marco Belinelli also hit Rose up. Not to ask him to play or discuss the ongoing severity of his recovery, but instead to discuss the nature of his enormous…er marbles.
That one was bound to make Rose laugh. And let’s face it, he could use a good chuckle.
Or maybe a pizza. He has to be exhausted from all that damn sitting rehabbing he’s been doing. A cheat day should not be out of the question.
Having a pizza delivered from Papa John’s during the game is, though. They were kind enough to remind Rose that “the bench” is not a suitable address.
Worry not, though, Derrick. Chicago’s season will (likely) be over soon, and you can scarf down all the pizza you want.
Just remember that “the couch” isn’t a befitting address either.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Derrick Rose Is 2013′s 7th Highest-Paid Athelete Despite Not Playing All Season
Sports Illustrated has released its list of 2013′s 50 highest paid American athletes and coming in at No. 7 (per SI.com) despite not playing a single minute is Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who earns $33.4 million.
The former MVP has sat out the entire 2013 season up to this point while recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
Even though he was medically cleared to play back in March (per ESPN.com), Rose has said his mental state is not where it needs to be for him to take the court, so Bulls fans have played the waiting game all year.
The Bulls’ season will likely reach its end on Wednesday without Rose seeing any game action, as Chicago is in Miami for Game 5 of their second-round playoff series with the Heat. The Bulls are down 3-1 in the series and are ripe to be beaten again tonight.
With fans and media questioning Rose’s character due to a return that never happened in the 2012-13 season, the news of Rose’s earnings is sure to damage Rose’s reputation even further.
Throughout the playoffs, the Bulls have fought tooth-and-nail each game, leaving everything they have on the court. From fighting through injury to battling sickness, the Bulls have become a media darling for how hard they have played with a limited cast this postseason.
As the Bulls showed incredible will and played their hearts out each and every game, an increasingly negative light was put on Rose as he sat on the bench in street clothes.
Does Rose deserve the money he made in 2013? Sure. His play up until the injury earned him the big contract and he deserves every penny.
Even though his reputation took a hit in 2013, his pocket book didn’t and that will have Rose laughing all the way to the bank.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Derrick Rose’s Return Wouldn’t Have Altered Course of Bulls vs. Heat Series
Derrick Rose wasn’t going to save the Chicago Bulls from the steamroller known as the Miami Heat. Even an MVP-caliber player like the Bulls point guard can’t be expected to return from a year on the sidelines to shine against the NBA’s best team.
Talk about Rose making his triumphant comeback, a cloud hanging over the team for months, reached a fever pitch after the Bulls won Game 1 in Miami. But it didn’t happen. He’s remained out of action while the team proceeded to lose three straight games, two in blowout fashion.
Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago reported before Game 4 a decision was already made that Rose wouldn’t return in the second-round series.
Despite erroneous reports that he was set to dress for Game 3, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, the former league MVP won’t return to the court in the series, something Thibodeau is aware of.
However, at the outset of the second round, Rose did strongly consider coming back, but ultimately decided against it, another source said.
It was the right decision. Only Rose understands his body, which explains why he hasn’t played a single minute despite reports he was medically cleared to return in early March (via ESPN).
If Rose believes he’s not ready to play, nobody can tell him otherwise. Playing without complete confidence his knee would hold up would be a major mistake. And the last thing he needs after being cautious throughout the process is a setback.
Those relentlessly on his case about not playing should realize the chances of the Bulls upsetting the Heat were microscopic, even if Rose returned.
Real life isn’t like a video game. Just because Rose is medically considered “healthy” doesn’t mean he would step onto the court in top form. He would be just beginning to process of getting back to an elite level and that’s going to take time, whenever it happens.
Furthermore, trying to start that comeback in the middle of a playoff series would be an incredibly difficult task against any team, let alone the defending champion Heat.
Add in the fact the Bulls are already working without Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, who are both listed as questionable for Game 5, and Chicago was doomed from the outset barring a miracle.
Their win in Game 1 was a wake-up call the Heat clearly received. They have been dominant ever since, and returning Rose wouldn’t have changed the direction of the series.
If he decided to play, the Heat would have put relentless defensive pressure on him for every second he was on the court to test the knee. That’s not an ideal scenario for somebody who’s clearly still waiting for the confidence tank to refill.
There’s absolutely no reason to bring him back for Game 5 or beyond. The best decision throughout the process has been waiting until next season and that hasn’t changed.
With a completely healthy roster and a supremely confident Rose, the Bulls would have a chance to give the Heat a serious run. Winning Game 1 with what amounts to depth and role players showed the secondary talent on the roster, but it was never going to hold up over a seven-game series.
Adding Rose to the squad wouldn’t have changed anything.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Derrick Rose considered return against Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose keeps fans on edge about what he could do, might do and now what he thought about doing.
Let us be clear he will not return to face the Miami Heat in Chicago’s Eastern Conference semifinals series, but according to CSN Chicago, he thought about it.
Please click here to read/watch this post.
The post Derrick Rose considered return against Miami Heat appeared first on Players View.
View full post on Yardbarker: NBA
Report: Derrick Rose Considered Returning Against Heat, But Changed His Mind
Between Rose, the Bulls, his teammates, other players and “sources”, this has been a textbook way of how not to handle a superstar coming back from injury.
This could have been so easy.
I would have ruled Derrick Rose out for the entire season at the All-Star break, even if I knew it was a chance that he could come back at any time.
That would have stopped all the questions about his return and if he did by chance come back, he would have been seen as hero. They could have said he had a setback or used any plausible excuse and people would have bought it, because Rose at the time wasn’t a guy people would question.
Instead they left the carrot dangling and now it has gotten out of control. So when reports come out like this from Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago people just groan.
Despite erroneous reports that he was set to dress for Game 3, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, the former league MVP won’t return to the court in the series, something Thibodeau is aware of.
However, at th
View full post on Yardbarker: NBA
Derrick Rose Reportedly ‘Strongly Considered’ Returning vs. Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls fans are disappointed to learn that Derrick Rose won’t be returning for the rest of the Miami Heat series, and they might be even more bummed out to learn he was once on the cusp of suiting up and taking the floor in their second-round matchup.
Rumors swirled about a potential Game 3 return, but CSN Chicago’s Aggrey Sam broke down what happened behind closed doors:
Despite erroneous reports that he was set to dress for Game 3, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, the former league MVP won’t return to the court in the series, something Thibodeau is aware of.
However, at the outset of the second round, Rose did strongly consider coming back, but ultimately decided against it, another source said.
The team’s official stance might not make such a definitive declaration, but it makes sense for them to hold off unless Chicago miraculously advances past LeBron and company.
If you’ve followed the Derrick Rose ACL return saga at all, you know it’s an issue that has become increasingly controversial with each passing game.
Every time the city of Chicago got its hopes up, it encountered the sobering sight of Rose in a suit and tie on the sidelines.
First it was a potential post-All-Star return. Then it was possibly March. Then it was, “Will he return prior to the playoffs?” And for the past few weeks, the yearnings have grown louder, wondering whether a highly anticipated postseason return will ever happen.
May 12 marked the one-year anniversary of his ACL surgery, which only served to highlight the length of his absence and the longing of Bulls Nation for an appearance.
Rose and the Bulls have been extra cautious throughout this entire process, so this news about his continued absence against the Heat isn’t shocking.
They wouldn’t want to risk further injury or a setback in a series they’re not expected to win. Throwing him at Miami in the middle of the series would be a boost for team morale, but it would be a tough adjustment for Rose and unlikely to sway the outcome of the season.
Also, if we’ve gathered anything from this high-profile rehab, it’s that Chicago won’t officially rule out his return this season. That means, if the Bulls somehow out-duel the Heat, we could see No. 1 suit up in the conference finals.
Until then, enjoy more of the Nate Robinson Show.
Follow Daniel on Twitter for more NBA Playoff chatter: @DanielO_BR
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
