Derrick Rose Injury: Why Skipping All-Star Game Would Be Best for Bulls and PG

The Chicago Bulls have zero chance of reaching or winning the NBA Finals this season if superstar point guard Derrick Rose's injuries continue to be a problem, which is why skipping the 2012 NBA All-Star Game makes perfect sense for all parties involved.

Speaking on Rose's availability for this month's All-Star Game, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau told ESPN 1000's "The Waddle & Silvy Show":

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We'll see where (the back situation) is when we get there. We just want to do what's best. We don't know how it will be. That's down the road.

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Back injuries are very painful, and they are oftentimes an issue for many months. Rose has missed several games this season because of back problems, so the Bulls must use extreme caution when handling Rose.

The All-Star Game means absolutely nothing, and risking Rose's long-term health in a meaningless exhibition could ruin the team's chances of its first NBA championship since 1998.

With C.J. Watson starting at point guard in Rose's place, Chicago is plenty good enough to defeat just about any team in the league, so starting Rose makes no sense at all if his back is bothering him.

The second half of the season will be a tough one for the Bulls, so resting Rose for the stretch run and the playoffs is the best strategy going forward.

The Bulls have a great amount of depth, and this is why they haven't made any major trades to ruin that depth; they need it for situations like this when their best player needs to miss multiple games.

Chicago has the best record in the Eastern Conference, but earning the No. 1 seed in the playoffs isn't that important for the Bulls. If the current No. 2 Miami Heat get the No. 1 seed, it won't be a big deal to the Bulls because Miami is not a tough place to play in the postseason.

Rose means everything to the Bulls' chances of success this year, so resting him as much as possible is the best strategy to ensure he's healthy enough to be effective in the playoffs.

Allowing him to play in the All-Star Game would be an extremely foolish decision.

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Nicholas Goss is an NBA featured columnist at Bleacher Report.