Derrick Rose will be taking the first steps towards returning to competitive basketball when he practices with Team USA tomorrow. The 2011 NBA MVP has struggled with staying on the court since tearing his ACL in 2012.
After missing all of the 2012-13 season, Rose finally made his return last year for the start of the ’13-14 season. Unfortunately his return was short-lived as re-injured himself after playing just 10 games. Though some would wonder why Rose would risk further injury playing for the National team, the upcoming slate of games for Team USA will help get him back up to playing speed.
In the few games that Rose did manage to play he was far from the player that most recognized, and an International competition such will be a good way to gauge where he is performance wise. The most intriguing part of Rose’s involvement in Team USA is that he might not make the final cup for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. Narrowing the final roster down to 12 players will be difficult considering Team USA will need quality point guards, and already have a slew of last minute drop outs. Considering that Rose has had major knee surgeries that have kept him sidelined the past couple of seasons, one could assume that he is on the bubble list of players that will be cut.
To his advantage, it is Rose’s previous experience with Team USA that will give him an edge on making the final roster. It also helps that Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is part of the United States coaching staff.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:
“This is the next step,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who also serves as Mike Krzyzewski’s assistant for USA Basketball. “Derrick has handled every step to this point the right way. The last time he participated in USA Basketball, he followed that with his MVP season (in 2010-11). So we’re hoping he can use this time productively.”
USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and Krzyzewski typically place a high premium on previous experience in making roster decisions. So the fact Rose played on the 2010 World Championship team that won gold in Turkey is equity that could come in handy.
There will be plenty of people watching Rose with vested interest when Team USA competes in their upcoming exhibition games against the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico before the World Cup.
Other News Around The League:
In other Team USA News, USA Basketball announced that Jimmy Butler will be unable to participate in this week’s training camp in Las Vegas. Butler was slated to be on the USA Select Team.Butler was only expected to serve as a member of the Select team for the training camp, with his chances of being called up to the National team being slim to none.
USA Basketball announces that Select Team member Jimmy Butler (slightly strained groin injury) won’t participate in the Vegas training camp.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 27, 2014
Keeping up with the trend of Chicago Bulls players in the news, Joakim Noah also made headlines. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year had some choice words regarding LeBron James and the Bulls quest to winning a championship. Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago reports: “Every time LeBron steps onto the court he’s affecting the game,” Noah told ESPNChicago.com on Sunday during a promotional event for Adidas. “He’s the best player in the game, but that being said, I think we have a chance to beat them. And that’s the goal. We want to beat LeBron James, we want to beat the Miami Heat, we want to beat all those teams who are in our way. He’s obviously one of the big obstacles.” The emotional leader of the Bulls is excited about the roster moves his team has made over the past few weeks and is confident they can overcome James and the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. “It’s not about him. It’s about us,” Noah said. “It’s about our team and being the best team that we can be, then time will tell.”
Esau Howard is a regular contributor to Sheridan Hoops. You can follow him on Twitter at @EsauTheFirst.
I say Lillard, Curry, Rose as the three point gaurds
There is also Wall, Irving, Lillard and Curry. Also need room for Harden and possibly Thompson at SG, so I could see Rose not making team. There can only be 5 guards and I’ve just listed 6 besides Rose.