If you were a Team USA player, it would be natural to have some second thoughts after Paul George’s injury. Yes, that was a fluke, the kind of thing that could happen playing pickup anywhere at any time, but if you were a player who has battled some injuries it would be natural to stop and think.
Derrick Rose says he is not pulling out of Team USA in the wake of George’s injury.
Rose has played 10 games over the last two seasons due to knee injuries, and while he has looked close to his old self at training camp and drawn raves (and maybe a starting job) from Coach Mike Krzyzewski, there are some talking heads and some Chicagoans who thought he would use the camps to train but he wasn’t going to really play for his country.
Nope. He’s going to Spain for the World Cup. From friend of this blog Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com.
“I have no fears. I have faith. I know that I’m going to be fine. I know that I busted my ass the entire two summers. You can say two seasons to get back to where I am right now. And just try and keep it moving, stay positive every day, do everything consistent like I’ve been doing. Doing the consistent work when I come in, stretching, seeing Jen (Swanson, the Bulls’ director of athletic performance), talking to Jen, just getting my mind clear before I step out on the floor. I’m doing everything that Coach K and them want me to do, and I think everything will go my way.”
All pro athletes have to have this faith that they will be fine, whether they play in the NBA, the NFL or the Barclays Premier League. Every time you step on the field of play something could go terribly wrong, but you can’t play like that and be effective. You have to block it out of your mind.
Rose is in his hometown with Team USA this week as they have a couple days of training camp in Chicago before facing Brazil in an exhibition on Saturday night (a good test as Brazil mimics powerhouse Spain with size up front, rolling out Tiago Splitter, Nene and Anderson Varejao).
Rose likes the feeling he is getting around the Windy City right now.
“It’s going to feel like a pro-am game a little bit. Everyone has been talking about it in the city. It seems like it’s a buzz. It’s great what USA Basketball and Nike has been doing around the city, just keeping kids occupied, keeping people occupied, getting them something to do. I think it’s going to help the city, and it should bring some hype to the city,” Rose explained. “It’s kind of hard. It’s different. In Vegas, I usually go back to my room. But being here, in my hometown, you’re going to stay out a little bit more, going to see a little bit more. But my goal is to stay off my feet. I’m happy to be in the city, it’s good weather right now and the city needs this right now.
“I think it’s going to be encouraging for the kids, all the little hoopers that’s coming back from school and actually playing in pro-ams now and that’s in high school and get a chance to come out to the game.”
And see Rose play, let him show Chicago he is all the way back. And with that the Bulls become title contenders. Not that it will change the minds of some naysayers, but the true fans who love the game and the Bulls will get it.
