Fansided

Derrick Rose: Team USA, injuries and his unexpected journey

By Bryce Olin

Jul 30, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Derrick Rose fields questions from reporters following a team practice at Mendenhall Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Derrick Rose fields questions from reporters following a team practice at Mendenhall Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) both chase a loose ball during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 107-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) both chase a loose ball during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 107-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Playing the ‘What if’ Game

Imagine how different the league could be if Rose had not gotten injured in 2012 and 2013.

Do the Heat win two championships and make four straight NBA Finals? I don’t think so. The Heat beat the Bulls in five games during Rose’s MVP season in 2010-11. You would think the Bulls would have been able to find a way to best the Heat in one of the next three subsequent playoff meetings. Maybe not, though.

Even if they hadn’t, what stars would Rose attract this summer or next? Carmelo Anthony? Kevin Love? Do the Bulls throw more at Minnesota for Love if they’re much closer to winning a title?

The Bulls would probably still be title-less regardless of Rose’s injury. Miami and San Antonio were probably too good for Chicago to beat for a championship, but who knows? With a healthy Rose, maybe Chicago pulls the trigger and goes over the cap to get another piece or two, instead of continuing to be cheapskates every season.

We’ll never know what Rose could have been had he not suffered two serious knee injuries in three seasons, just like we’ll never know what exactly would have happened if Bilbo never found the ring. I mean, there probably wouldn’t have been three more books and a million movies made about it, but still.

Rose may never be the player he was going to be before the injuries, but as a basketball fan, I’m glad he’s back playing basketball again and having fun while doing it.

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