Although marred by the saddening injury suffered by Paul George, the USA basketball scrimmages have been a source of joy for many an NBA fan as the team prepares for the FIBA tournament in the coming weeks.
Firstly, there's basketball in August. That's pretty cool. Though it's the sight of Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose handling a basketball, dribbling and in typical highlight reel fashion - dunking - that has even the most casual NBA fan smile a little. One of the leagues premier stars is fit, fresh and by the looks of things - ready to go.
In the USA practice scrimmage between the "White Team" led by Kevin Durant and the "Blue Team" featuring the returning Rose, it took the former MVP about a minute to showcase his athleticism, taking the ball to the teeth of the defense for an impressive finish. A powerful dunk from a Kevin Faried assist followed a couple of plays later before a coast to coast lay-up saw Rose make it from one side of the court to the other in three dribbles.
Although not in a competitive NBA setting just yet, the sight of Rose performing well against elite players bodes well for the Chicago Bulls, who will be counting on their homegrown hero to return to pre-injury form.
Chicago missed out on Carmelo Anthony during summer but restocked well regardless - bringing in championship experience with Pau Gasol on a very reasonable contract while the newly drafted Doug McDermott brings shooting to a side that had one of the league's worst offense last season. Nikola Mirotic also arrives to give the Bulls rotation a "stretch four" possibility, but the biggest addition all summer has been the return of Derrick Rose.
Now two years removed from the ACL tear that took the point guard out of the play-offs and the ensuing 2012-13 season, Rose has shown flashes of the elite guard play that now has many calling for the 25-year-old to start alongside Durant, Anthony Davis and James Harden when the FIBA tournamet officially starts.
The opportunity will be terrific for Rose, who will no doubt benefit from additional chances to shake off rust ahead of October. Despite only appearing in 10 games prior to the season ending meniscus tear in 2013, Rose looked off the pace as he adjusted the pace of NBA basketball again. One would assume that adjustment will be smoother after a month of international competition.
With Rose back at the point, Chicago looked primed to take a big step towward claiming an Eastern Conference crown that is up for grabs after Miami's big thre broke up in summer. Kevin Love's arrival in Cleveland could change that, but the Bulls defensive prowess coupled with the offensive punch provided by Rose, Gasol et al gives Tom Thibodeau's side a real shot at making the NBA Finals. Provided Rose is healthy, a Bulls-Cavs Eastern Conference Final appears to be the logical pick.
October is awhile away, but the sight of a once familiar point guard with the ball in his hands is enough to give many reason to believe Chicago will be in contention when Spring 2015 comes around.