The Cavaliers aren’t taking any chances with Derrick Rose‘s health, planning to keep their point guard on a firm minutes cap, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Sources told McMenamin that Rose will be limited to 28-31 minutes per game for the rest of the season. That figure was part of a long-term plan developed by coach Tyronn Lue, trainer Steve Spiro and Rose’s agent, B.J. Armstrong. They hope the limited workload will help preserve Rose for the playoffs.
Rose has missed four games this season with an ankle sprain, but has played well since returning to the lineup Sunday. He had a season-high 20 points in Friday’s win at Washington, scoring 13 in 10 minutes in the first quarter, but he played just 19 minutes after that.
“A minute restriction, there’s nothing I can do about that,” Rose said. “But with me having all these injuries in my past, I’m kind of used to it. But whatever the team sees and the staff sees and they want me to do, that’s what I’m going to cooperate with and just go about it the right way.”
Rose has a long injury history and hasn’t been the same player since tearing the ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs. He played a combined 49 games over three seasons after that incident, but has increased that number to 51, 66 and 64 games the past three years.
He is coming off surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee that ended his 2016/17 season in early April and may have scared away some teams on the free agent market. After not finding an offer to his liking, Rose accepted a one-year, minimum-salary deal with Cleveland in late July.
Even though he looked good Friday, Rose continues to feel the effects of the ankle injury. He admitted it still bothers him and left the arena wearing a compression sleeve.
“My ankle still isn’t there yet, so the second half it was getting stiff,” he said. “But I feel like I’m putting it together, quarter by quarter. Second half, I got to figure out a way to get my ankle back to, I don’t know, just make it a little more [pliable]. Warm it up a little or something. In the second half, I was obviously kind of stiff out there, but I believe in my teammates, and that’s one of the reasons why I came here.”
The only smart thing to do even though the Cavs are in need of a point guard. A combo guard, hint hint Bledsoe, would be great about now.
Wade took himself out of the starting lineup but Smith will not. It may take a third James friend to motivate a trade to get Smith out of the lineup! But the Suns would have to reduce their demands and IDK what their motivation is to do so; they’re not supposed to win too many games!
I don’k how but cavs are getting bledsoe