The roller coaster season for the 2014-15 Chicago Bulls continues as point guard Derrick Rose underwent successful knee surgery Friday morning to remove part of the meniscus in his right knee.
What looked like another season-ending injury a few days ago, the circumstances surrounding Rose’s injury have changed once again with the Bulls now expecting Rose to be back as early as four to six weeks — just in time for the playoffs.
Bulls insider Vincent Goodwill talked with Bulls’ GM Gar Forman about Rose’s expected-recovery window:
Forman: “Rose return to play in the next 4-6 weeks depending on rehab.”
— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) February 27, 2015
The “depending on rehab” part is worth noting because, especially with someone’s injury track record like Rose’s, it’s not guaranteed he won’t encounter any hiccups in his rehabilitation process. With the playoffs inching closer everyday he’s rehabbing it’s fair to wonder how Rose will handle that kind of pressure.
Forman: Rose will be able to start loading up and doing basketball activities in a week
— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) February 27, 2015
On one hand, it’s a relief, in some respects, to know Rose will likely be able to participate in the NBA Playoffs once again with one of the deepest, if not the deepest, Bulls’ team he’s ever had the opportunity to play with. Before the 2014-15 NBA season began many analysts and writers expected the Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers to lead the way in the Eastern Conference; that hasn’t been the case for the most part.
With Rose back in the fold, the Bulls’ title hopes, or at least Eastern Conference Finals hopes, are more feasible even with Rose jacking up six 3s a night while shooting 28 percent from deep. Rose may never regain his 2011 form, but for the Bulls to have a serious shot at contending this summer they’ll need whatever form of Rose they can get, only time will tell what form that is this time around.
