Derrick Rose's ACL surgery apparently went well, but his doctor says he may be out anywhere from eight to 12 months as a matter of recovery. If Rose misses next season, are the Bulls' playoff chances over?

• bajaz1021: "Bulls should make a run at Nash, and once Rose returns, we'll have two solid PG's running the offense. Rose isn't going to be back to his true self once he comes back for while anyway, and having a guy like Nash would be perfect for this team while Rose gets back to 100%. "
• dconroy22: "Take the year off Derrick, become a student to the game and watch hours of tape on other great players and point guards, then come back and dominate the league like nobody has since Jordan. "
• cameronbromen: "I bet the bulls tank next season to get a better draft pick and come out guns blazing in 2 years. I don't like it, but that's what I would do if I was the GM."
• farwellfred: "In my opinion, The Bulls should get rid off everyone except Osik, Gibson, and Noha. We will not make the playoffs next year and that will land us 2 lottery picks in the summer of 2013. We will have our lottery pick for not making the playoffs and we will have the Bobcats lottery pick and our draft pick that is playing overseas. "
• andiannorthington: "Torn ACL aren't a dramatic career ender like they used to be thanks to the evolution of science but it's still a major injury and it's going too be a long process to recovery."
• abcesr: "He'll never be the same. He will still be good, but no longer great, a la Grant Hill."



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The NBA playoffs so far have been characterized by significant injuries to big-time players. Dwight Howard was out before the postseason began, Derrick Rose went down in the waning minutes of Game 1, and several other players (Baron Davis, Amare Stoudemire, etc.) have fallen victim to on- and off-court maladies. Consequently, we're seeing a lot of series that definitely will not go the distance -- there are six 3-1 series in play right now, along with two that have already been decided. The Nuggets in particular have had fits dealing with the new-look Kobe Bryant -- he's been more of a distributor late in games than he has in the past, where the game plan was simply "give it to Kobe."

What would give the Lakers the best chance to win in the playoffs?

•  
  69%
  Kobe Bryant primarily shooting in the fourth quarter
•  
  31%
  Kobe Bryant primarily distributing in the fourth quarter

(Total votes: 23,073)

Which team that has already advanced to the conference semifinals has the best shot at a title?

•  
  39%
  Spurs
•  
  61%
  Thunder

(Total votes: 115,485)

Which team down 3-1 playing on Tuesday night has the best chance at winning its series?

•  
  54%
  Bulls (vs. 76ers)
•  
  24%
  Hawks (vs. Celtics)
•  
  10%
  Magic (vs. Pacers)
•  
  12%
  Nuggets (vs. Lakers)

(Total votes: 6,778)

It was supposed to be the Bulls' year -- or at least the best chance the Bulls have had of winning a championship since the Jordan years. Derrick Rose's torn ACL has likely put an end to Chicago's title hopes, unless the team discovers a sudden reserve of strength available only when their superstar is off the court. Some fans are questioning the decision to keep Rose on the court with the game very nearly won in the fourth quarter, but coach Tom Thibodeau isn't apologizing for playing his star.

Do you agree with Tom Thibodeau's decision to keep Derrick Rose in the game with the Bulls up double digits late in the fourth?

•  
  46%
  Agree
•  
  54%
  Disagree

(Total votes: 145,686)

How far will the Bulls advance in the playoffs without Derrick Rose?

•  
  23%
  First round
•  
  47%
  Conference Semifinals
•  
  21%
  Conference Finals
•  
  3%
  NBA Finals
•  
  6%
  Win NBA title

(Total votes: 63,449)

Whose team will miss them more in the playoffs?

•  
  42%
  Dwight Howard with the Magic
•  
  58%
  Derrick Rose with the Bulls

(Total votes: 93,469)

How much will Team USA miss Derrick Rose in the Olympics?

•  
  29%
  A lot
•  
  51%
  A little
•  
  20%
  Not at all

(Total votes: 18,515)

Derrick Rose takes his share of shots as the Bulls' go-to guy, and he's starting to get sick of it. Rose complained about the treatment he's received from players in the league after a hard foul from Charlie Villanueva. Is it just sour grapes for Rose?

• evfree56: "He puts himself in these situations a number of times per game. His play style and out of control nature will make him vulnerable to a hard foul."
• CEDalton7: "All you haters, just wait you are now calling him soft, a whiner, but he and his team will rise up as NBA champs! 'Every Rose has its thorn' and you will get stuck."
• judouj: "The only superstar this happens to? Please. Howard takes a lot more hard fouls."
• SanDiego to Iowa: "Remember when Iverson mostly stopped driving, Rose? It was because he got stick of getting hit by guys 75 pounds heavier too. It's called, being an amazing little man in a big man's game."
• Gwerig: "Hard fouls? Give me a break. Rose throws himself full speed in the air, you touch him and he'll go flying. Just like Iverson did back in the day, only Iverson didn't whine about it. "
• firedept135: rose does need to quit with the whining, but the rest of the team needs to step up and do something about it too though."



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The Bulls got an up-close look Thursday night at what Dwight Howard could bring to their squad as the Magic center had 29 points and 18 rebounds in Orlando's 99-94 win over Chicago. Bulls guard Derrick Rose has said he's sick and tired of trade talk involving Howard, but the idea of the two stars on the same team must be a tempting one. The Bulls will have until the Ides of March to make a decision either way.

In their current incarnation, are the Bulls legitimate favorites to win the NBA Finals?

•  
  47%
  Yes
•  
  53%
  No

(Total votes: 19,627)

Could Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard coexist on the same team?

•  
  82%
  Yes
•  
  18%
  No

(Total votes: 57,716)

Which would be a better 1-2 punch?

•  
  36%
  LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
•  
  64%
  Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard

(Total votes: 101,594)

We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

• Rank: Where does Carmelo Anthony rank among the NBA's best?
• Vote: Which team would be the best fit for Carmelo?

Carmelo Anthony wasn't always the biggest prize in the offseason shuffling of players from team to team, but the guy who wore that crown made his Decision a long time ago. Anthony has been The Guy Who Could Make Your Franchise A Contender ever since.

Currently, the Bulls and Knicks are the primary contenders for Anthony's talents, with the Nets a darkhorse third candidate. Chicago seems to have the best shot at landing Anthony, but some observers aren't so sure that a trade would be worth it. Any Anthony trade would likely have to involve Joakim Noah, and no less an authority than Scottie Pippen has said that he wouldn't let Noah go in order to get Carmelo. Would Chicago be foolish to pass up an opportunity to get Anthony for the sake of keeping Noah?

“

thibodeau, being a defensive coach will not want noah part of this deal. the bulls hold the upper hand b/c denver knows they have to get something. melo is not going to the nets. a team that won 10 games last year.

” -- maxtime55

“

Should I get excited? No! Because the Bulls are dumb enough to let an opportunity like this fly by. I am more positive that within a couple of years (1 or2) , I will be saying, "man the bulls would have won a title with him, now he has won it with another team.

” -- manejd

• Vote: Who else deserves to be in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame opens its doors to a new class of inductees tonight in Springfield, Mass. (which gave us basketball and Dr. Seuss within a 13-year span and has since taken the last 106 years pretty much off). And perhaps it's only fitting that all-time sidekick Scottie Pippen gets to share the night with one of only two players in NBA history to score more points than Michael Jordan (not to mention, the entire 1992 Dream Team).

Pippen spent his career ceding (sharing, if you're feeling charitable) the spotlight to Jordan, but is entering the Hall with the Mailman one legacy battle he can win? SportsNation blogger ricodade offers his own take on a "Robin" for the ages.

• "Pippen's induction is overdue. He should have went in last year with MJ, but I understand why he didn't. Jordan's legacy is so much bigger than basketball. It would have been fitting for them to enter the Hall together, just as they won six titles together.

  "Scottie's resume reads like so: 6-time NBA Champ. 7 time All-Star. 8 time All defensive first team(twice on the 2nd team). 3 time All NBA first team. His 2307 steals is still a record for steals for a forward.Dream Teamer/Olympic gold medalist.

  "That's hardly the resume of a sidekick." -- Check out ricodade's blog

“

Congrats Pip!! Couldn't have done it without you. We all know that. As great as MJ is, you were definitely the most crucial/vital piece to his success and vice versa. The truest Batman/Robin duo of all-time! It's a great day to be a Bulls fan, watching your introductory into the Hall of fame!

” -- Youmustbecrazy40

“

i hate the mailman but even i know he should be in the Hall. on the other hand Scottie Pippen should never go to the hall. his plaque should be of MJ's head not his. he owes his career to his airness.

” -- rocketsandtitans