Ric Bucher's post on Sports | Latest updates on Sulia

Derrick Rose has been dunking for weeks, but let's stop the madness

He's not anywhere close to practicing or playing. There are those in his camp who don't think he should play at all this season, for a couple of reasons: first, and foremost, the Bulls don't have a championship-caliber roster, so why shorten the strength and conditioning period for his knee to drag them into the playoffs or an extra round or two deeper. Second, don't mask just how flawed this roster is by coming back and finishing up strong. (My second call-out of the week: where are all those trumpeting the last few years how the Bulls' success was more or equally about their defense and Tom Thibodeau's coaching over DRose being a one-man assault weapon? Or that there was more talent around him than some people realized? No offense to Thibodeau, who is a very good coach, but just how brilliant is he looking now? Or the suggestion the Bulls' defense was good in spite, not because, of Derrick? Defensive FG percentage, overall and from 3pt range, suggest otherwise. And then there's just watching and comparing the actual games, that antiquated means of assessing a team -- I know, I'm a dinosaur that way.) Of course, all of this could be trumped by Rose simply deciding his body feels good enough to return and refusing to wait a minute longer. That is a very real possibility -- the Bulls could be 11 games out of a playoff spot with 10 to play and Rose would still think he could find a way to lead them there, or kill himself trying. But any suggestions that he could come back before March, from what I'm told, is filling the fan base and everyone else with unrealistic hope that a championship run is still in the equation. This season will be worthwhile if, and only if, it convinces management not to exploit Rose's talent, refusal to complain and never-say-die attitude and accept that what they have around him right now is not enough.