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Good news, Derrick Rose fans

It’s a little ironic that the first day I visited Bradley was the day Derrick Rose tore his ACL. I remember falling to the back of my tour line to sneak out my phone and check for an update. “Bulls won but… D Rose is down and holding his knee,” the text from my friend said. I cried later that day when I found out the severity of the injury. The future of my favorite athlete, idol and the key to Chicago’s championship hopes was in jeopardy.

The second time a knee injury ended his season was still rough, but the process was easier. I knew the jokes would flood in and the increasing doubt would creep into the mind of the general public, but I was still hopeful. I was one of the few people left that had faith. I felt like a 6-year-old on Christmas Eve waiting in my bed for Santa Claus in his red #1 jersey to hop-step down the chimney and deliver me the gift of a championship.

Even after two devastating injuries and early playoff exits, a championship for Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls this season seems like an expectation more than an idea. But like we’ve seen the past two years, we need Derrick. And every time he falls down, the hearts of Chicago fans aren’t the only thing that follow, our championship aspirations do as well.

So this is how it’s going to be this year. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m going to have to watch every game in the fetal position with a heart-rate monitor in my right hand. Every time Derrick drives the lane, does his jump pass, does his signature launching-pad layup, we’re going to be nervous. We have good reason to; we’re nervous for another injury, however big or small.

But I have good news: this is only temporary. To the people saying he’ll never be the same, his athleticism so far has proved you wrong. To the people saying he’ll keep getting hurt, well, you’re right. For now, but it’s normal. Playing professional basketball is stressful on all parts of the body. Once he gets back into the routine of a normal NBA season, his body will have properly adjusted and these little flare-ups will occur less and less.

Both of Derrick’s injuries so far this year have been freak occurrences: he landed on someone’s foot the first time and slipped on a wet spot the second time. He’s proved that he can stay healthy for years at a time already. He played in every game of his only college season at Memphis. In his first three NBA seasons, he played 81, 78, and 81 games respectively, with his aggressive, above-the-rim style of play. Now, he’s playing smarter. He’s picking his spots to drive. He’s dishing to a teammate instead of jumping into two defenders for a layup.

These are the same adjustments Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and others have made when their athleticism decreased. Although theirs were from age and Derrick’s is from injuries, the same concept applies. They were still dominant. During the Bulls’ second three-peat from ‘96-’98, Jordan was still the best player in the league with 75 percent of his original athleticism. Just like a Derrick Rose with only 75 percent of his explosiveness is still the most explosive player in the league.

Long term, Derrick will be fine. He just needs the confidence to believe in himself and time to re-learn the punishment the league serves on one’s body. Although his body is learning the hard way, we need to have faith that Derrick’s toughness will prevail. If it takes him sitting on the bench against the winless Philadelphia 76ers to nurse a nagging injury, then so be it. Give the man a break. Figuratively, of course.

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