Derrick Rose Injury: Tom Thibodeau Not to Blame for Bulls' Disaster

Derrick Rose is done for the season. Blame fate, the basketball gods or the TV you watched the whole disaster unfold on, but leave Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau alone. 

As ESPN reports, the Bulls' star guard will indeed miss the rest of the season with what is being called a torn ACL. 

A couple of truths don't look good for the honorable Tom Thibodeau. For one, the Bulls were up by 12 points when Derrick Rose went down with an awful-looking injury. Second, the time left was roughly the same amount of time that it takes me to take down a Chipotle burrito: 1:22. That leaves millions to wonder how Thibodeau could have the reigning MVP out there, when we all know that he is susceptible to injury. I mean, the man missed 27 games this season with a myriad of injuries, leaving his tired legs weak from lack of use. 

So, I put it to you this way: Why play Rose at all?

That question is as preposterous as questioning Thibs and asking for his head in the wake of Rose's disastrous collapse to the floor. 

The fact is, Rose had to play because this is the playoffs, and you play your best hand when it's available. More than that, the Bulls were hoping to close out Game 1, despite a surging 76ers teams. Even if they were up 20 points, Rose was on the floor, chipping away at all the rust that had accumulated. 

There is no opportunity to get into game shape in the postseason, but the first round is as good a time as any. 

Thibodeau explained it away when asked about the issue of leaving Rose in the game.

"

There's absolutely no issue there. It's a playoff game. They had cut a lead down to 12 and we're going to have our guys on the floor making sure that we win the basketball game...

...Again, you're in a playoff game where a lead has been cut by eight or 10 points. It's a key time of the year and you're trying to win the game, finish strong and win the game.

"

How do you guard against the inevitable? There was no way of knowing when or if Rose would go down in a heap. 

What's enough of a lead to keep him out there, fans? Eight points? Ten?

In the end, Rose's injury is so catastrophic that many feel the need to place blame somewhere, because these things don't just happen. But it's time for us all to grow up and realize that these things do just happen; it's what makes sports the best and worst way to spend your time. 

Rose is out for the season, and Thibodeau now has his toughest coaching job ahead of him. He doesn't need a world of unwarranted guilt too. 

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