Injured Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose says a lack of muscle memory is one of the things holding him back from returning to the court from knee surgery, TNT reported Thursday. "I was able to speak with Derrick off-camera a couple days ago and he's telling me how badly he does want to be out there, but he says that he just doesn't have the muscle memory back, is the way he put it," sideline reporter Rachel Nichols said during the network's coverage of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Nichols also said that after speaking with Rose, the lack of muscle memory is affecting the way Rose's knee feels and the way he shoots, and that until his body can react without him thinking about it, he doesn't want to be on the court and unsure of himself. Rose underwent surgery to repair his torn left anterior cruciate ligament on May 12, 2012 and while he's been scrimmaging 5-on-5 since February and has said to have looked dominant in practice, he has yet to return to in-game action.
Rose has been medically cleared to play, but he has said he doesn't feel confident enough to test the knee in a game. Neither he nor the Bulls have ruled him out for the rest of this postseason, but it doesn't appear likely he will return for the Bulls Game 7 series finale against the Brooklyn Nets.
When asked Friday if he has any indication Rose will play Saturday, coach Tom Thibodeau said "No." Rose hasn't talked to the media on the record since the playoffs started, and his interviews since his injury have been infrequent.
The Bulls have experienced other injuries during their series against the Nets. Joakim Noah (plantar fascitis), Taj Gibson (knee) and Kirk Hinrich (calf) have all fought injuries. Nate Robinson, who has shined in Rose's absence, said he was vomiting on the bench due to flu-like symptoms.
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