By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Derrick Rose did not participate in the United States National Team’s open practice on Monday afternoon, but anyone worried about the former MVP’s surgically-repaired right meniscus can relax.
Rose is just two days removed from an emotional return to the United Center in Chicago and a 95-78 victory over Brazil in an exhibition as preparations for the FIBA World Cup of Basketball are ongoing. Rose got the start at one guard spot Saturday night, scoring seven points to go along with four rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
In that game and through training camp in Las Vegas in late July, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft has shown flashes of his previous brilliance, but has not had to go full-bore yet. The United States plays the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night and Puerto Rico Friday night at Madison Square Garden before facing Slovenia in Gran Canaria, Spain as its final World Cup exhibition.
In between, if Rose wants to take a day off like he did on Monday, no one is going to argue. He missed the entire 2012-13 season after tearing his left ACL in Game 1 of a 2012 first-round playoff series. He returned last season, but was done after 10 games thanks to a torn right meniscus.
“I think that having these two years off made me really, really learn about my body,” Rose said. “I know how much work I need to put into the offseason, I know how much work I need to put in every day to prepare myself for a game.”
“If I’m feeling good, I’m gonna practice, but today I felt like I needed to rest a little bit.”
Rose’s participation with USA Basketball this summer was questioned by some coming off the two injury-riddled years. Now, his presence has become crucial to this roster after Kevin Love opted not to participate and Kevin Durant dropped out earlier this month with what was called ‘mental and physical exhaustion.”
With Durant out, the gap between the United States and Spain isn’t as big as it was just a few weeks ago. That leaves Rose to help lead the charge after he helped the United States to a World Championships gold medal. He was a no-go at the 2012 London Olympics thanks to the left ACL injury.
“Knocking off the rust, that’s exactly what it’s doing,” Rose said when asked how the National Team exhibition schedule was helping his comeback. “Offensively, I don’t have to score the ball or anything because I have some of the best scorers on my team. I can really become a point guard, really get a feel for the game, get a groove going and just play the way I know how.”
“Whatever the game needs, I’m gonna try to add to the game.”
