The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Latest Rose setback hits Bulls, fans hard
Team again must carry on after star goes out injured.
News that Derrick Rose will have knee surgery again hit the Bulls and their fans hard and left them in a familiar spot — trying to get by without their star point guard.
The torn meniscus in his right knee was announced Tuesday night, another tough twist for a franchise, a star, his sponsors and a fanbase that thought the Bulls were entering another golden era just a few years ago, with the Chicago product leading it.
Instead, he’s having surgery on his right knee for the second straight year — on the heels of a season he missed entirely following a torn left ACL.
“It’s so unfair,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The guy’s been through so much.”
Rose’s rise from growing up in a tough Chicago neighborhood to stardom with his hometown team is well-documented. He has a maximum contract with the Bulls and a huge marketing deal with Adidas. But in some ways, this era is feeling like a big tease for the Bulls and their fans.
Instead of celebrating a title for the first time since the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen era, they have endured close calls and long waits while Rose recovers.
It wasn’t what the Bulls envisioned after taking him with the first pick in the 2008 draft. He went from Rookie of the Year to All-Star to MVP in his first three seasons, becoming the youngest player to win that award in 2011 while leading Chicago to the Eastern Conference finals.
But the feel-good story took a drastic turn the following season when Rose fell with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the playoff opener. The top-seeded Bulls bowed out in the first round against Philadelphia. Rose sat out the 2012-13 season, and his comeback last season ended at 10 games.
Thibodeau said Wednesday it’s not clear when the injury happened or when team physician Dr. Brian Cole will perform the surgery. He was not sure how long Rose will be out, either.
If he misses the re- mainder of the year, it would be his third season-ending knee surgery.
“Heartbreaking, in a way, because of how much he’s been through for the last couple of years,” Pau Gasol said. “Difficult to deal with. We feel for him.”
Rondo penalty: The Mavericks suspended Rajon Rondo for one game for conduct detrimental to the team a day after the point guard had a heated exchange with coach Rick Carlisle.
Rondo missed Wednesday’s game in Atlanta. The team didn’t comment beyond a statement announcing the penalty.
Rondo was benched with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter of Dallas’ 99-92 win over Toronto on Tuesday. He was bringing the ball up the court when Carlisle angrily shouted for a timeout and exchanged words with Rondo from several feet away as the player headed to the bench.
Rondo, acquired in a trade with Boston, missed six games this month after breaking a bone near his left eye.
Etc.: The Lakers said guard Ronnie Price will be out six to eight weeks after elbow surgery. Wednesday’s Games ■ Heat at Magic: Late ■ Mavericks at Hawks: Late ■ Knicks at Celtics: Late ■ Nets at Pelicans: Late ■ Hornets at Bulls: Late ■ 76ers at Bucks: Late ■ Wizards at Timberwolves: Late ■ Clippers at Rockets: Late ■ Suns at Nuggets: Late ■ Lakers at Jazz: Late ■ Grizzlies at Kings: Late ■ Spurs at Trail Blazers: Late NBA notes ■ Pistons: After two 10-day contracts, guard John Lucas III was signed for the remainder of the season, bolstering Detroit’s depth after Brandon Jennings went out with an Achilles injury. The 5-foot-11 Lucas has averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 assists and 12.2 minutes in eight games with Detroit. ■ Mavericks: Club owner Mark Cuban said he would like to expand the 82-game schedule to decrease back-to-back games. Cuban said he would prefer pushing the playoffs into late June instead of starting the season earlier because baseball doesn’t present the same TV competition as football. … Chandler Parsons missed his second straight game Tuesday with an injured left ankle. He’ll return no earlier than Saturday, when Dallas hosts Brooklyn.
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