Coach K offers to help media find new, non-health-related questions to ask Derrick Rose
As USA Basketball prepares for the elimination rounds of the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the team continues to face questions about the health of Derrick Rose.
Rose is playing in his first real game action since November, when he tore the meniscus in his right knee. While he's looked more than fine - as quick as ever, without an ounce of creativity lost off the bounce - his production indicates that Rose may still be working off some rust.
Without a setback on the court, and coming off games on three consecutive days, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski thinks it's about time everyone stops worrying about Rose's knee and instead focus on how he's performing. In fact, he's even willing to help the media formulate more pertinent questions to ask the Chicago Bulls star:
I think at some time that everybody should stop asking about him physically, and just say, 'How's your game? What do you think? You think we're going to win? How'd you like that pass?' Although it's nice when people say how do you feel, when that's the only thing you say then they say, 'Come on man, let's have a more in-depth conversation.' And I think he's ready for that.
'I saw you in a shooting drill, you looked happy; How's your crossover going? You're getting up on your jumpshot. Is Coach K calling enough plays for you? Do you have a rift with Coach K? Why is he limiting your minutes? It's because he's from the south side of Chicago, and not from the north side.' Those are all more questions that will stimulate his mind and will help him.
It's hilarious that Krzyzewski is introducing a potential rift as a means of getting people to stop asking Rose how he feels physically. As the bench boss would surely affirm, rust is to be expected, but the program needs Rose to work it off in short order ahead of a potential finals showdown with powerhouse Spain.
In five games played over a six-day stretch - which again, is the key for Rose if you're looking at things through the lens of the Bulls - Rose is averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 assists in 17.8 minutes while shooting just 25 percent from the floor. He's still getting to the rim like the old Rose, but he's struggling to finish, and his jumper is coming along slowly.
It's similar to how he looked in 10 games with the Bulls last season after returning from an ACL tear, and before his subsequent meniscus injury. In those games, Rose averaged 15.9 points and 4.3 assists in 31.1 minutes but shot just 35.4 percent and had a career-high turnover rate of 5.8 miscues per 100 possessions. As it turns out, playing elite, world-class basketball is not like riding a bike, and it takes some time to round back into form (we see you, Kobe).
Team USA assistant and Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is optimistic that Rose is close to being his old self:
His body felt good, mentally he's strong. I thought his defense was terrific [on Thursday]. He's not making shots right now, but each day he's getting more comfortable and doing a good job running the team. I just want him to continue to concentrate on his improvement, but physically he feels great.
...
Well he hasn't played in a long time. I think that was to be expected. I think the more he plays, the more his timing will come around. Right now he has missed some layups that are usually automatic. That will come.
The U.S. squad takes its next step forward on Saturday, when the Americans look to blow past Mexico and into the quarterfinals.