Derrick Rose Starts vs. Magic

"I've been putting a lot of work in, busting my ass to get back," Rose said before shoot-around Wednesday morning. "I'm just happy that I’m able to come back to a team where I think we're playing all right basketball. I think defensively we're playing good. Offensively, I shouldn't have to worry about it, just come back and play the way I normally play."

Image Credit: Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The original timetable for Rose's return was 4-6 weeks, and his latest comeback Wednesday night would put him a couple of days ahead of the worst-case scenario. The procedure was minor compared to a repair of the right knee meniscus he underwent last season, causing him to miss all but 10 games.

Of course, no procedure on any body part belonging to the 2010-11 MVP can be characterized as minor at this point. His latest recovery gives him five regular season games to get his conditioning and rhythm back before the postseason begins.

The Bulls were 10-10 during Rose's latest absence and find themselves in a tight struggle to hang onto the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With five to play, the Bulls have a one-game lead on Toronto and a two-game lead on Washington for the third spot, which would give them a first-round matchup against Milwaukee.

The Bulls are 15-4 when using their regular starting lineup this season.

Thibodeau downplayed expectations for Rose. The Bulls went 10-10 in his absence.

“Him just being there is a plus for our team,” Thibodeau said. “I'm not expecting him to play 35 minutes, score 30 points. Play to your strengths, cover up your weaknesses, make your teammates better. That's all I want him to do.”

The Bulls own a one-game lead over the Raptors for the East’s third seed, though the Raptors hold the tiebreaker. Kirk Hinrich, who has missed two games with a hyperextended left knee, also will play.

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

2014-2015 NBA Preview, LeBron, Championship, Lakers, and more

by Regis Welch @regisjwelch

Down The Line Sports

Image Credit: NBA.com

Well the NBA season returns this week, and I must say that I am extremely excited. I’m excited because this has been an extremely long offseason that has only had a few storylines that have been covered for far too long by the media. C’mon you know what I’m talking about.

* Where’s LeBron going? 

* Can D. Rose come back healthy?

* Is Phil Jackson going to return as the head coach of the Knicks? 

* Are the 6ers going to win five games in the 14-15 season? 

For the most part we already knew how those questions were going to pan out. Am I surprised that LeBron went back to Cleveland? Not really. He has a much better chance to win an NBA title and he can bring glory to his home city. Cleveland has not celebrated a championship since 1964. Jim Brown led the then Cleveland Browns to the NFL Championship.     

Let’s examine the teams:

Cleveland Cavaliers

As previously mentioned, LeBron James did return home. He is team up with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. I believe Love is the best big man in the NBA because he can rebound and he can score from anywhere on the court. However, Chris Bosh was also a deadly big man as well who took a minor role to play alongside LeBron. I don’t see Love putting up the same numbers that he did when in Minnesota just because he doesn’t have to. I can hope that he is still effective on both sides of the court.  Kyrie Irving is arguably the best point guard in the league. He can score and stretch the court.  The Cavs also have a great bench who is made up of good scorers.

However, on the bad side the Cavs do a have a rookie coach, David Blatt. He is a respected coach. Blatt comes with a great resume. He’s a four time Israeli League Coach of the Year, six time Israeli Cup Champion, Italian Cup Champion, and Euroleague Champion. It will be interesting to see him bring an international flair to the NBA and see how he reacts to the nuances a new league.

Miami Heat

For all of the friendly folks who pretended to be Miami Heat fans, please know that your presence will not be missed. It was just a few years ago where the Heat were in this same position. The leader of the team was Dwayne Wade and he had a mediocre supporting cast. Now players who actually have talent will surround Wade. Chris Bosh can be a beast within the paint again. He does not have to be on the perimeter to stretch the defense. I believe that Luol Deng is one of the most disrespected players in the league. He can score, play defense on log major minutes. 

The million-dollar question with this team is their health. Wade must play in at least 70 games. If Danny Granger can return healthy they may have a chance at a playoff spot.

With all that being said the next time that the Miami Heat win a championship will be when LeBron James has a full head hair. It’s not gonna be anytime soon.

Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose appears to be back and playing like Derrick Rose. He’s making cuts and driving hard to the basket. My only concern about this team is the health of the former league MVP. Rose has had an ACL tear in the past and a torn meniscus.  To play this sport you must have a good foundation and hopefully he has that.

The Bulls brought in a Pau Gasol during the free agency period. It will be hard for teams to matchup on the Bulls double-headed monster in the post. Gasol will play side by side with Joakim Noah. Noah carried the Bulls all of last season in the absence of Rose. 

Chicago reminds me most of San Antonio. Meaning that this group of people plays great together.  If and only if Rose is healthy will this team win the NBA title.

Indiana Pacers

Paul George broke his leg while playing for team USA during the offseason. He will be out the entire 2014-2015 season. George says that he can possibly be back for the playoffs if needed. This team has no chance of making the playoffs in the easiest conference. The Pacers were disgusting in the postseason last spring. Roy Hibbert, proved his worth as he had games where he did not record a basket or a rebound. A 7’2 you can’t get a rebound. I have a great aunt over 80 who can play better. David West is the only person on this team that I trust. He will play hard, too bad his team won’t.

To read more a whole lot more head over to Down The Line Sports (link at the top of this article) 

Eager Anticipation for Derrick Rose and Johnny Football

(Via the official Instagram of Derrick Rise)

By Frantz Paul

The barren summer stretch without football and basketball is almost over. After watching the Hall of Fame game between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, NFL fans got a taste of the sport we have been without for more than 6 months. NFL Kick-off is right around the corner and sports fans can’t wait.  Meanwhile my fellow basketball fans have a lot longer to wait until the November basketball season begins, but with the FIBA team USA guys gearing up, we'll at least have that until opening day tip-off. But in the NBA and NFL, there are two guys I'm looking forward to seeing more than any other in the fall; Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and Johnny Manziel of the Cleveland Browns. Rose has been gone for the better part of two seasons with back-to-back knee injuries, and Johnny Football is a college legend who I'm hoping once his number is called can create that same box office entertainment in the NFL he showed us all at Texas A&M.

It's Been A Long Wait, Mr. Rose...

With these recent pictures I've seen of D-Rose, I know the man has been in the gym religiously getting himself ready for the toughest challenge of his NBA life, the comeback. After only playing 10 games in the last two NBA seasons, and countless memes/jokes making fun of his absence from the game, he has a point to prove. Before, the Derrick Rose slander seemed like just fun and games (although tacky), now it seems as if there's a sect of people genuinely rooting for him to fail. The only reason for this is so low-life's can say, "see, SEE, I told you Rose couldn't come back and be the old Derrick Rose!!!!" Those people are sick and need to get their heads checked. When healthy, Derrick Rose is must see TV, and his team were always in the mix for the Eastern Conference thrown. Rose even beat out LeBron James for an MVP trophy during the 2001 season. His MVP numbers (25 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds) were great, and he gave opposing point guards nightmares when he went up against them. So hopefully when he comes back, we can see more of the old Rose dunking on opponents, and forget that we saw Rose siiting on the sidelines wearing a suit for two years.

I'm not a Bulls fan but I'm a basketball fan, so a healthy and rampant D-Rose is good for the sport. I'm rooting for you D-Rose, good health and Godspeed.

(Via RantSports.com)

Time To Show Them What You Can Do, Johnny...

I have no idea when we'll actually see Johnny Manziel start an NFL game because the Browns incumbent, Brian Hoyer, is the #1, as he should be. Hoyer is more experienced, he knows the playbook, and before he blew out his knee last season he looked like the real deal. But Hoyer will be looking over his shoulder all season long because once he makes a misstep the calls to bring in Johnny Football will be loud and boisterous from the Dog-Pound faithful. Cleveland natives haven't been buying Manziel jerseys in bulk to see Manziel sitting on the bench. Hoyer will have to play well and do it consistently. The NFL game is a different breed of monster from what Manziel is used to. Those Houdini-like escape tactics were great against SEC defenses, but can he replicate them against NFC North defenses is another mater entirely. There are linemen and linebackers in the NFL who are just as fast as Manziel, and they don't like to be embarrassed on national television. And being that Manziel is a rookie, veteran players will try to make an example out him. What Manziel has working in his favor is his pocket awareness and the ability to find daylight when there doesn’t seem to be anywhere when the pocket is collapsing around him. He’s not a big quarterback so it’s possible that his size will help him elude NFL defenders long enough for him to make some Manziel magic happen on the field. So far in his young NFL career, Manziel has been all the talk off the field with Vegas trips and parties (which if he’s allowed to do it shouldn’t be a problem as long as he’s not being a problem) But in order for Manziel to be Johnny Football, he’s going to have to be on the field and Hoyer is going to have to play poorly. But knowing that Manziel is waiting in the wings, Hoyer may play lights out this season which is a good thing for the Browns. Not a bad problem to have if you’re a Browns fan.

I can’t for the fall/winter to get here so two of my favorite sports could finally be in full swing. The FIBA Basketball Championships will give us a glimpse of what we may expect from Derrick Rose, and the NFL pre-season will have Johnny Football on display, even if it is in a back-up role with the reserves. I’m looking forward to watching both of these athletes shine, and I’m guessing the world is too.