The cringe on Paul Pierce’s face said it all.
When Pierce learned, on camera, that Boston Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo was diagnosed with a torn ACL and would miss the remainder of the season, he grimaced as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest. You could instantly see the thorough pain and disappointment as he uttered the perfect three words to describe the thoughts of Celtics Nation.
Oh my God!
Let’s be honest, the Celtics had no chance at hanging up another championship banner before Rondo went down. With Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the twilight years of their storied NBA careers, the Celts simply don’t have enough juice to compete at the highest level for a sustained period.
Sure, there will be nights when Pierce and Garnett turn back the clock for a game like they did Sunday night when they defeated the reigning champion Miami Heat 100-98 in overtime. The superstar seasoned vets are both still very good players. They just don’t have the energy or consistency to make it through the grind of a full NBA season and the rough and tumble playoffs.
Even with two future Hall of Famers on board, it’s clear that Rondo was actually the key cog on the team. With Rondo in the fold, they stood an outside chance of serving as a spoiler to one of the Eastern Conference contenders.
Now that Rondo is confined to sidelines, suits and surgery, the big question is whether Celtics executives will decide to blow up the team by dealing Pierce and/or Garnett before the trading deadline. If they do, don’t expect them to get much in return for the aging stars. Expiring contracts and mediocre draft picks would likely be the result of any deal unless ownership Lucky the Leprechaun can work his magic for team execs.
Rose to return soon
While Rondo’s ACL injury dashed the meager hopes of those in Boston, in Chicago fans are on the waiting with baited breath for the return of their superstar, Derrick Rose. The former MVP tore his ACL last April and has endured the long road to recovery. Although the Bulls are being mum on anticipated return date, all signs point to the point guard’s return coming after the All-Star break.
Rose has been practicing with the team on a limited basis for weeks, with doctors gradually giving him the OK to participate in more drills and types of contact. He’s yet to participate in a full practice but it should just be a matter of time, presuming he faces no setbacks.
Many fans presume that Rose will be a different player coming off such a serious surgery. However, the unfathomable success of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who fell just nine yards short of breaking the NFL’s all-time rushing record after tearing an ACL, has some thinking that the improbable is possible.
While it’s certain that it will take Rose some time to get comfortable making cuts on his surgically repaired knees, regain his explosiveness to the rim and blazing speed, it’s possible those things could occur this season. If they do, the Bulls will return to contender status. Without their star player, the team currently sits third in the East thanks to the strong two-way play of Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.
Forward Carlos Boozer has also stepped up big this season. Without Rose there to dominate the ball, the Bulls have become one of the better passing teams in the NBA. As always, coach Tom Thibodeau continues to coordinate one of the top defenses in the league.
It will take work and time to assimilate Rose back into the offense. But considering the severity of his injury, the team will take a gradual approach, which should help the process. Instead of throwing Rose back into the lineup with an expectation to drop 25 per night, they’ll likely work him into the lineup slowly with limited minutes and responsibilities while he makes sure his knee is ready.
With half a season to get back in shape and ingrained into the offense, Rose should begin peaking right around playoff time. If he does, the Bulls will be a problem.
