Coach Mike Krzyzewski: Derrick Rose ‘elite’ again
By Mike Dyce
The Chicago Bulls are hoping to get former MVP and point guard Derrick Rose back for the 2014-15 season. Rose has played just 10 games in the past two seasons after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee and a torn meniscus in his right knee.
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Rose is playing for Team USA during the summer to get some of the kinks out ahead of the NBA season and is performing well. Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Rose for his journey back onto the court while also saying it has been sort of a coming out party for him.
“It takes an exceptional person, which is why we’re talking about Derrick,” Krzyzewski said, via ESPN. “I think he’s exceptional in every way. He went right at it. The first defensive exchange in the camp, he was all over the ball handler. Moving his feet, attacking him — there was a buzz right away — because it was basically his saying, ‘Look, I’m not just back. I’m back at a level that’s elite.'”
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who serves an assistant on Team USA’s staff, said Krzyzewski’s practice schedule was a perfect fit for Rose’s recovery.
“I think it’s ideal for him in this particular case,” Thibodeau said. “One of the great things they do is the way they pace the team. There’s days where there is no contact at all. … We never went past two hours, and oftentimes it was an hour and a half. There was not a lot of contact. I think it’s good for Derrick. It’s great for him, actually.”