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Ric Bucher's post | Latest updates on Sulia
The rush to operate on RGIII's knee is in direct contrast to the new approach for repairing torn knee ligaments,
with the Warriors' Brandon Rush at the opposite end of the spectrum and the Bulls' Derrick Rose somewhere in the middle. Rush tore both his MCL and ACL back on November 2 and is finally having surgery to repair the ACL this Wednesday, January 16. His medical advisers allowed the MCL (ligament behind the knee) to heal on its own and then had Rush get his full range of motion back, which took a month of rehabbing, before setting a date to repair the ACL. The result is that Rush can begin strengthening and developing the muscles necessary to protect his knee almost immediately after surgery, thereby expediting the recovery process. That's what makes the quick surgery on RGIII somewhat troubling. Wasn't rushing him back what led to him tearing up his already compromised knee? Now, perhaps because RGIII tore the ACL and LCL -- basically the inside and outside ligaments on his knee -- immediate surgery was necessary because he couldn't work on his range of motion without any stability. But those counseling both Rush and Rose were alarmed, based on what they've learned about repairing knee ligaments, that RGIII would go under the knife so quickly. They're concerned that no one is protecting RGIII from himself. Rose, for example, is dying to get back on the court and firmly believes he can make a title run this season, even though the Bulls, collectively, are a worse team than the one he came up short with last season. His advisers are the ones trying to slow his roll, asking him to take the long view and give his knee another full summer of work before subjecting it to the rigors of NBA competition. RGIII clearly has the same competitive mentality, which is why it's vital someone with a more sober and objective view take the wheel. "Someone has to be the adult in the room," said an NBA source. Maybe having RGIII undergo immediate surgery and announcing that he could be back by the start of next season is the proper plan of attack. But in light of how similar knee injuries have been handled of late, it feels like the same urgency that led to his current predicament.