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With Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose injuring his right knee (not to be confused with his left knee, which is the one that he had surgery on in 2012 and was the reason he sat out of the 2012-13 season) in Friday’s game at Portland, you have to wonder whether the team’s hopes for any postseason success have a leg left to stand on.
One reason to be optimistic about the Bulls? There’s the Luvabulls.
* The only Bulls fans who did not lose sleep over Rose’s injury are those who already were asleep by the time he was hurt in the third quarter.
* Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau’s postgame gathering with the media left little doubt something serious occurred: “I’m concerned. Any time anyone goes down, you’re concerned. But I don’t want to speculate until we get more information for you guys.”
* OK, so we won’t speculate about the severity of Rose’s injury. The reality, however, is if he needs surgery and is out for the season, the Bulls do not appear to have a backup plan. Well, other than starting a backup in his place. Maybe general manager Gar Forman can make a deal with the Denver Nuggets to bring Nate Robinson back.
* Still not speculating about the severity of Rose’s injury. But season-ending surgery for him could hasten the departure of Thibodeau. No matter how good he may be as a coach, unless the team’s talent level somehow improves dramatically, Thibodeau has no chance at winning an NBA title. Not that he necessarily had much of a shot with a healthy Rose.
* For those looking for something to be optimistic about regarding the Bulls, well, there is supposed to be a Luvabulls reunion featuring former Luvabulls at the Dec. 10 game.
* Speaking of teams with little chance of winning a championship (we were before being distracted by a mention of the Luvabulls), the Chicago Cubs named coaches for the 2014 season. Former Cubs third baseman Bill Mueller was named hitting coach and former Cub Mike Brumley assistant hitting coach. Manager Rick Renteria retained pitching coach Chris Bosio. Added to the staff was former Cubs director of player development Brandon Hyde, who will be the bench coach; former San Diego Padres coach Gary Jones, who will be third base coach; and Jose Castro, who will be quality assurance coach. Presumably, Castro was assured there was some quality to coach. If all this is the highlight of the offseason for the Cubs, it’s going to be a long season in 2014.
* While the Cubs were naming coaches, their division rival St. Louis Cardinals were trading third baseman David Freese and pitcher Fernando Salas to the Los Angeles Angels for center fielder Peter Bourjos and a minor league outfielder. The deal figures to make the Cardinals a younger, speedier ballclub. But Cubs fans shouldn’t worry because the team’s five-year plan (or whatever it is supposed to be) is going along just fine. And the stars of the future no doubt will be on display at Cubs Convention. Along with stars of the past. Now all the Cubs need are some stars of the present.
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