How Hurt is Derrick Rose Really?

Derrick Rose's spotty attendance in the starting five for the Chicago Bulls this season has been slightly confusing. First off, he's always been known for his durability. Secondly, each injury was sustained during a game that he completed. Lastly, the games he has missed seem to always coincide with slips by the Miami Heat in the standings. So how hurt is D-Rose?

Prior to this season, Rose had never missed more than three games over the course of a season. In the 2010-11 playoffs, he played with an ankle twist. Handling double-teams from players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Rose still managed to put together admirable games for a team that fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals. He was a shoe-in to be playing each night. So how, suddenly, did he go from being a player who missed games so infrequently to a man missing 1/3 of his team's contests this season?

Some blame the hectic 2011-12 schedule. In a season where the norm is to play an extra game per week, this theory is not without its merit. Perhaps Rose's body has taken enough blows that it simply cannot operate at full speed and the Bulls are protecting their investment. Maybe he really is too hurt to play.

When Derrick Rose returned from his first injury this season — back spasms that sidelined him for 10 games — Chicago fans collectively sighed in relief. He played well for a few games before suffering a new injury — a strained groin. When he came back from that (for an overtime loss against the New York Knicks in which he missed two late free throws that could have iced the game) fans thought, "Rust. He'll be fine." When he then missed another game for a mysterious ankle injury and returned to a two-point, 1-for-13 shooting performance against the Miami Heat, fans didn't know what to think anymore.

Bulls supporters were left to wonder how the back spasms came about. On which play did he pull his groin muscle? When, exactly, did his ankle give? Rose is so competitive and stoic that he rarely puts on a show after taking nicks and bruises on the court, so it's virtually impossible to pin down the exact moment that each occurred. I suppose his toughness is such that he was able to make it to the end of each game with legitimate injuries, but I also wonder if the injuries were "I-need-10-games-off-worthy."

Most importantly, though, is the effect that Rose's absence has had on the Chicago Bulls' season: literally none. Playing 16-7 basketball without their MVP, the Bulls seem determined to win on a nightly basis with or without their superstar. This has made his absence less painful. Most importantly, though, is that they have increased their grip on the Eastern Conference number one seed by 1.5 games since his second injury. In other words, even without Rose, the Heat are losing slightly more frequently than Chicago.

This has brought me to the theory I devised after Rose's first injury: perhaps Thibodeau is playing an even coyer version of Gregg Poppovich, resting his starter for the playoffs. Keep in mind that Deng, another minutes-eater, has also missed some time this season. Imagine this for a second … the Bulls are ahead of Miami by two games in the standings when Rose comes to his coach and says, "My back is stiff today." Coach Thibs says, "We have a cushion, so take the night off."

Bulls win. Heat lose.

Wouldn't it be a lot easier for Thibs to then say to Rose, "Hey, take another day off if you need it." The answer is obvious.

Am I suggesting that Rose is faking his injuries? Of course not. Most people who watched Rose struggle through last Thursday night's Miami contest would attest to the fact that Rose seems to be suffering from some lingering pains; however, wouldn't missing so many games right before the playoffs normally send a team — especially a Chicago team, where fans hit the Def-Con 5 button quicker than the generals in War Games — spinning in a sea of uncertainty?

The Bulls don't seem fazed.

Are they that confident without Rose? I'm not buying it.

Mark my words: Derrick Rose will be on the court for the final nine games this year. He will be back to 100% come playoff time. And the guys whose legs have to guard him in a seven-game series will wish they had a 40-game season, as well.