The Chicago Bulls' Game 1 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was a by-the-numbers affair until just less than a minute and a half left to go in the fourth quarter, when Bulls guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose was forced to leave the contest after planting awkwardly on his left knee. While driving on 76ers big man Spencer Hawes, Rose came to a jump stop, shifted uneasily and immediately passed the ball off to teammate Carlos Boozer while clearly aware that something had gone wrong. After writhing on the court for a few minutes, he was helped off by both the Chicago and Philadelphia trainers.
Guesswork isn't going to help much; though Rose was able to gingerly walk off the floor, that is never any indication of health, as both NBA and NFL players have participated in game action without knowing that they were working off of a torn ACL.
Rose — who has suffered through groin, ankle and foot injuries all season, missing 27 games in the process — won't know the extent of his injury until the swelling goes down, and an MRI is performed. If he does have a torn ACL, something that usually results from those non-contact crumples, he will miss the rest of the playoffs and likely Chicago's training camp next fall.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will take in criticism for having Rose on the floor with his team up 12 so late in the fourth quarter, but though Chicago was in control of the contest throughout, this wasn't a blowout and the former Coach of the Year should be absolved from blame. Though he has tempted fate in the past by leaving Rose and other Bulls on the court deep into one-sided wins, this wasn't an example of that. Rose finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in Chicago's 101-93 win. We will update this post as we learn more, but as for the initial reaction, we will not be able to know anything until the team reveals the results of his upcoming MRI.
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