Derrick Rose is injured, again. The Chicago Bulls point guard is once again dealing with injury issues that could keep him off the court for a stretch of time. Already this season, Rose has missed time for two sprained ankles after two years of playing just 10 games thanks to knee injuries. Now, the point guard has reportedly suffered a hamstring issue that Chicago is trying to downplay the severity of.
Rose's Thursday night ended early when the point guard exited the game against the Toronto Raptors with a left hamstring injury. Rose originally thought the issue was cramps, but team doctors believe it is a tweaked hamstring. The injury occurred in the fourth quarterback as Rose walked gingerly back to the bench. According to head coach Tom Thibodeau, told the media that the point guard would be re-evaluated, but the team did not believe the issue was serious and he might be able to play this weekend.
"I don't know, man," Rose said, via ESPNChicago.com. "Just missing two years, now you're just going to fall for no reason I guess, man. Just trying to work every day, put in consistent work every day. And don't lose any confidence with these setbacks."
Rose's latest setback falls under a microscope simply because of recent comments by the point guard that questioned his loyalty to the team. Rose told the media that he would never step onto the court unless he felt 100 percent healthy. No one can blame him simply because of the amount of time he has missed over the past two years since winning the MVP award, but Bulls' fans were not happy. Rose says he is not bothered by the criticism following his comments.
"Really, I was just being myself," Rose said. "As long as I'm being myself, that's the only person I can be, and that's about it. But as far as saying anything, blame me for thinking about the future, I'll probably think different, but that's all I was doing."
The injury to Rose will put pressure on players like Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson to step up which they likely will not mind since both players are looking to sign new contracts. Butler and Gibson have survived a number of trade rumors tossed their way that will be denied as Rose continues to be on and off the court. More playing time and better numbers will help contract talks in the offseason.
