The number of ACL injuries lately has reached what feels like an all-time high. When Derrick Rose went down with the injury during last season's playoffs, Chicago Bulls' fans held their breath, wondering if their star player would ever take the court again. While everyone anticipates his return, the path to playing is unclear. While fans want Rose back in time to get the team a good playoff spot, Rose says his return this season is not certain.
"I don't have a set date. I'm not coming back until I'm 100 percent. Who knows when that can be? It can be within a couple of weeks. It could be next year. It could any day. It could be any time. It's just that I'm not coming back until I'm ready, Rose said in an interview with USA Today .
Rose has been reported to be participating in full-contact scrimmages since around Jan. 30. It was assumed his return would happen after the All-Star break. Now the path to seeing the star return seems to be a bit foggy after these recent comments. Every NBA reporter has been all but guaranteeing Rose's return after the break, but no one knows if that is actually true except Rose.
At this point in the season, the Bulls are worse off than they were last year when Rose was in the lineup. He would have to shoulder much of the load of the team, which could open up to re-injury. Rose says that during the recovery process, he has added about 10 to 11 pounds of muscle, which could impact his game for the better.
Chicago is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings at 30-21. Brooklyn and Atlanta are close on their heels however, only a few games back from a better playoff spot. Fans understand that when Rose returns, the team will be cautious about his minutes and how much he is shooting. He will not be the 25-point a night Rose that he was prior to injury.
However, having Rose back in the lineup will do wonders no matter how much he is playing. Joakim Noah's health is up in the air with a foot injury. Kirk Hinrich is suffering from an elbow injury. Rose could be the constant shooter the team needs.
The original timetable for Rose returning to the NBA was eight to 12 months. It seems the likely hood of him actually sitting out the entire season is very slim. Rose says his health is in the high 80s so fans can probably rest assured their start player will seeing actual playing time before the season comes to a close.
