Derrick Rose Will Return This Season, So Bulls Title Futures Adjust

It's been an emotional week if you are a fan or betting backer of the Chicago Bulls. On Tuesday night, the team announced that Rose had torn the surgically-repaired  meniscus in his right knee. Being as it was Rose's third serious knee injury and second to that right knee, which forced him to miss most of last season, most expected his season to be done. Sportsbooks shot Bulls' NBA title hopes all the way up to +1500.

Minor Setback

However, some rare good Rose injury news came out Friday in that the team expects him back within 4-6 weeks following Friday successful surgery. The team was confident all week that this injury was minor. Those beliefs, based on his exam and MRI results, were borne out Friday when team physician Brian Cole performed the meniscectomy surgery, where "the torn part or the damaged part of the meniscus was removed."

"It was an anthroscopic outpatient surgery, so Derrick at this time is full weight-bearing," GM Gar Forman said. "It was a quick procedure. He had it done and he was able to walk out of the hospital.

“The way they explained it to me, there was a flap where the tear was. They went in and they shaved that out — that portion that was damaged and that should relieve the pain. After a short rehab [he] should be back to where he was.”

Back On Court This Week?

Rose could start working out at the team's practice facility Saturday, Forman said. The GM added Rose will be able to start "loading up" on his practice regimen in a week, doing drills and basketball activities, and should return for the end of the regular season. If he’s back in four weeks, the Bulls would have nine games remaining in the regular season. A six-week absence would take him through the end of the regular season. The X-factor in any Rose rehab is when he’ll mentally ready to play in an NBA game. He struggled with that at times this season. One likely scenario is that Rose sits out there set of the regular season and returns for the playoffs, which begin April 18 — seven weeks away.

Chicago's odds have since dropped to +1200 at Sportsbook.ag. The team is not expecting to add a point guard in Rose's absence even though the club had been in contact with free agent Nate Robinson, a former Bull.

The key for the rest of the season for the Bulls is to try and set up the best possible first-round playoff matchup. Really that would mean anyone but Atlanta, Cleveland and Washington. If the playoffs ended today, the No. 4 Bulls would face the No. 5 seed Wizards in the first round, and that's just not a good matchup for Chicago, Rose or not. Chicago won't drop to No. 8 so it won't  have to worry about Atlanta. However, dropping to No. 6 is possible and Cleveland is currently No. 3. But most expect the red-hot Cavs to pass Toronto and finish with the No. 2 seed.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : chicago bulls , derrick rose , nba odds

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