Derrick Rose looked fantastic on Monday night, scoring 30 points on 12 for 18 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in just 24 minutes of work during the Chicago Bulls' 107-98 preseason loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The point guard, who's trying to rediscover his MVP form after missing most of the last two seasons with knee injuries, did most of that damage before halftime, scoring 20 points in the first two quarters with an array of explosive moves, quicksilver cuts and dynamic dribble-drives that made his woeful 2014 FIBA World Cup seem like a distant memory and gave Bulls fans cause for celebration.
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And yet, after watching two seasons' worth of title hopes scuttled by injuries to the All-Star lead guard, you can understand why the Bulls might be a bit antsy any time they see Rose hit the deck. Check out how quickly Rose's Chicago colleagues rushed to his aid after he took a post-layup spill before the halftime buzzer on Monday, as captured by SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell:
You can, if you're so inclined, read the en masse descent on Rose as a full roster operating on pins and needles with every bump and bruise. You can also, if you're so inclined, read it as a squad-wide sign of respect for how much Rose has gone through to try to get back to the level he left behind all those months ago. You could also, of course, note the location of the exits at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio:
Whichever your preferred response, it was nice to see that Rose popped up none the worse for wear, came out for the second half, and continued to give Cleveland defenders. We're cautious about taking too much from a preseason affair — lest we forget, Rose looked sensational during last fall's exhibition slate, too, and didn't carry that level of play over to live action before his injury. Still, though, Monday's action certainly gave Chicagoans plenty to be excited about the possibility for a return to the NBA's elite, even if Rose himself doesn't necessarily feel 100 percent of the way back yet.
"I'm still trying to find my rhythm and let the game come to me and play team basketball," Rose said after the game, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. "They were just giving me shots I normally would take. In practice, the team is feeling more comfortable with me on the floor."
In one sense of the phrase, yes. In another, though? Clearly not.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
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