Derrick Rose sitting out for Team USA vs Dominican Republic
By Wes Goldberg
After reportedly being a game-time decision, Derrick Rose is not playing in Team USA’s exhibition game against the Dominican Republic due to “soreness,” according to NBA.com’s John Schuhmann. You have to wonder now if Rose should even be on the team.
Derrick Rose will not play tonight. Staff wants to give him an extra day.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) August 20, 2014
And now you seriously have to wonder how Rose will play 5 (or even 3) games in 6 days when the World Cup starts.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) August 20, 2014
Kyrie Irving starts in place of Rose. The rest of the starters for Team USA are Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kenneth Faried and Anthony Davis.
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According to Schuhmann, Rose did not participate in a full practice Tuesday, which made it unlikely that he would even start. Team USA basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said he isn’t worried about Rose’s injuries. “Right now, there’s no issue here. If [Rose] needs down time, this is a good time for it.”
Rose said that the most important thing right now for him is rest.
"“I’m really happy where I’m at right now, health-wise and recovering very quickly,” Rose said. “I’m just trying to take my time and get rest, because we have a long schedule ahead of us. I’m just trying to get as much rest as possible.”"
Rose played 24 minutes in Team USA’s exhibition win against Brazil on August 16 and had seven points, four rebounds and two assists with three turnovers.
I get that rest is the most important thing for Rose, who missed the better part of the last two seasons with leg injuries. At some point though, you have to worry if Rose can make it the entire tournament. With solid guards like Damian Lillard and DeMar Derozan likely not making the team, it isn’t as if USAB is desperate for quality players in the back court.
Plus, who knows if Rose is even as good as Lillard at this point? Rose didn’t exactly return to his MVP-form in his brief return last season.
Still, if Rose does make the team—and it seems he will—it is
a good opportunity for him to ease back into basketball before the NBA’s regular season begins.