Kyler: With Home-Court Advantage On The Line, Rose Should Play
(WSCR) With the Bulls emerging as one of the few elite teams in the Eastern Conference, many have said it's time for Chicago to sit Derrick Rose for a few games to let him heal properly.
One NBA expert, however, said that sitting Rose if he's healthy enough to play could be costly.
"Look, the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 in the Eastern Conference right now is one game," Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.com said. "Home court, especially deep into the playoffs for a team like Chicago, is going to be important.
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"You worry about rhythm. I think with Derrick Rose being a young player, you have to listen to your guy. While you hear 'back spasms' and you hear 'turf toe' those are all scary things for those of us that know what that can mean long term, if Derrick says he can go and Derrick wants to go, you risk kind of running into bigger issues of rhythm and the guy not being happy. I know that sounds kind of crazy, but if Derrick wants to play, you gotta let him play. If Derrick can't play and the medical staff says he can't play, I think Derrick will sit."
Kyler pointed to Rose's physical shape as the reason he is able to play through pain.
"Derrick is in great shape," Kyler said. "This is a guy that is a gym rat. Throughout the entire lockout, he was working everywhere he went. He had a good routine about running and being physical in the mornings, even when he was doing some of the PR stuff. Every NBA player is going through what Derrick is going through in some way, shape or form. Until Derrick says it's a problem, I don't know that it's a problem.
