GUESS THERE’S NEXT TIME
UC fans get no Rose, who returns to rehab; Bulls go belly- up again
Derrick Rose’s highly anticipated return to Chicago in a Cavaliers uniform didn’t happenMonday.
But at least it’s still a possibility this season.
Rose, who spent his first eight seasons with his hometown Bulls, went on a self- imposed exile almost two weeks ago, weighing retirement because of all of his injury problems. According to the Cavs, he finally made a decision Monday — hours before the Cavs handed the Bulls their ninth straight loss, 113- 91 at the United Center — and flew to Cleveland to continue his rehab on his injured left ankle.
The Cavs don’t return to Chicago until March 17, which should give Rose plenty of time to heal up and return to play with the Eastern Conference powerhouse. It remains to be seen whether he can rebuild relations with his Cavs teammates after his departure.
“I’m sure he’s going to have a conversation with guys,” guard DwyaneWade said. “That’s the way it goes in this league when most guys have their momentwhere they talk to the team and say the things they need to say. And then the team moves on. As we said early on, we understand. I’m sure we’ve all had a point where we’ve all been overly frustrated about different things in this game — injuries or playing time or roles. Sometimes you need to get away.”
Rose, 29, is no stranger to the idea. Last season with the Knicks, he went missing on a game day without permission. He apologized the next day but was fined.
After signing for the $ 2.1 million veterans’ minimum to join the Cavs in the offseason, he seemed to be in a good place entering this season.
“I get a chance to reintroduce myself back to the league,” he said in October. “I get to bet on myself. That was one of the reasons why I came here. I’m from Chicago. I got that hustling side. It’s in me. Next time you pay me, you’ve got to pay me double. So it’s fine with me.”
Rose played in seven games before the ankle injury. In his absence, the Cavs ( 17- 7) have won 12 straight.
That doesn’t mean he won’t be welcomed back.
“We’re excited about his return,” LeBron James said. “None of us can understand what someone is going through. You just don’t know. We support him in whatever he’s going through, and we’re going to be a shield for him if he wants to use us.”
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, who only had Rose for one season, was asked if he was glad the drama surrounding Rose was gone.
“It sounds like he’s back in Cleveland right now, and I’ve always said this about Derrick: I enjoyed coaching him,” Hoiberg said. “I will always wish him nothing but the best.”
Hoiberg has his own problems to deal with. The Bulls’ bench was still an issue Monday, as a sevenpoint Cavs lead in the first quarter quickly stretched to 16 by the half. The Bulls’ lack of shot creators was again exposed, and will likely remain a trouble area until Zach LaVine is ready to return from rehab on his left knee.
Defensively, the Bulls had few answers for James ( 23 points), Wade ( 24 points) and Kevin Love ( 24 points, 13 rebounds).
All of that added up to yet another blowout loss.
“The big thing is battling through those tough stretches,” Hoiberg said. “When the lights turn on for whatever reason, when things get tough, we just stop doing the things that make us a solid team.”