Video After The Jump
CHICAGO (Associated Press) - The Chicago Bulls announced Derrick Rose was headed for another knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his right knee.
And just like that, Chicago's cold winter had taken another chilly turn.
The Bulls have plenty of experience when it comes to playing without Rose. The 2011 NBA MVP appeared in only 10 games last season before he had surgery for the same injury in November 2013, shelving him the rest of the way.
The Bulls said a timetable for his return this time will be determined after the operation.
It's unclear when Rose re-injured his knee. He appeared to be rounding into form last month, averaging 22.6 points over his final 14 games before the All-Star break, but he had struggled since returning to the court after the time off.
Rose has been dogged by injuries since he won the MVP award. He was limited to 39 games during the 2011-12 season, and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia. He missed the next season altogether, and then last season was cut short by the right knee surgery.
But all the questions about his health faded to the background as he piled up games this season, appearing in 19 straight and 30 of 31 before Tuesday's announcement.
It's a big blow for the surging Bulls (36-21), who have won six of seven and appeared to be picking up steam after a tough stretch. They lead the Central Division by a half-game over Cleveland, but any extended absence for Rose will make it quite difficult for Chicago to hold off LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
"Man feel bad for D.Rose! Keep your head up homie and stay strong G!" James tweeted after the injury was announced.
James was one of several NBA stars who expressed their support for Rose on social media. All-Star teammate Jimmy Butler posted a picture of him and Rose with the message: "my point guard. my brother."
Rose, 26, is averaging 18.4 points and 5.0 assists in 46 games this season. He has flashed his MVP form at times, attacking the rim, but his outside shot has been unreliable. He is shooting just 40.7 percent, the second-lowest average of his career, and committing 3.2 turnovers per game.
The last three games have been particularly bad, with Rose averaging 10.7 points on 23.5 percent shooting. He had eight points on 1-for-13 shooting while playing almost 33 minutes in Monday night's 87-71 victory over Milwaukee.
The Bulls, who host Charlotte on Wednesday night, have shuffled players in and out of the lineup because of various ailments and have struggled to develop continuity after making some big moves last summer. Now they wait to see how long Rose will be out with his latest injury.
---
Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
Follow Me
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
}
Comments