The Chicago Bulls have been holding on for dear life all season with the hope that their best player Derrick Rose, would make his triumphant return from knee surgery and they would go on a spirited playoff run.
Rose is having issues overcoming the mental obstacles that one must face when making his way back from a devastating injury and there has been rumblings of unrest and impatience within the organization and the city with the point guard’s slow return.
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, says that isn’t the case and that the organization has been behind Rose from the start and nothing has changed.
“Yeah, yeah, right from the start,’’ Thibodeau said. “I thought [board chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] set the tone for it right at the beginning, he made it clear about how we were going to approach it. We were never going to rush him back and we weren’t going to allow him to rush himself back. And I think he heeded Jerry’s advice right from the beginning, he’s been diligent, he’s done everything that you could possibly do. He puts everything he has into each and every day. He’s still not quite ready and I think we have to trust him, so when he is ready we’ll move forward.’’
“I think it’s been very clear right from the beginning and we made it very clear that we don’t want him out there unless he’s comfortable,’’ Thibodeau said. “He’s done his part, we have to do what’s right and I think we are.’’
“I think [Reinsdorf] made it clear to us, to Derrick, to the doctors on how we were going to approach it, and that’s exactly what has happened,’’ Thibodeau said. “Trust me, Derrick wants to be out there very badly. He’s doing all he can, and when the time comes he’ll be out there.’’
The Bulls basically have no choice but to be accommodating to Rose as he makes his way back from this injury. The last thing they want and need is for him to rush back and re-injure himself because he’s playing in defense mode when he gets on the court.