Joakim Noah Tells Derrick Rose Critics to Shut Up

With Chicago Bulls bodies increasingly breaking down as the Playoffs drag on, there’s growing outside pressure for Derrick Rose to join his teammates on the basketball court. According to Joakim Noah, those who feel that Rose should be playing nearly a year after having a major knee injury, have no idea what they’re talking about. Per ESPN: “Derrick’s a brother,’ Noah said. ‘And to see him go through this is tough, but at the end of the day it’s really funny how quick people are to judge. But people don’t know what it’s like to lead a team, especially after you tore your ACL. If you tore your ACL and you have to be the starting point guard and have the expectations that Derrick has, then maybe you can judge, but everybody who hasn’t been in that situation before should really shut up because I feel like it’s just so unfair to him and to this team. We’re fighting, and everybody’s going to just s— on somebody who’s been giving so much to this organization. It’s crazy to me.’ […] Noah did not acknowledge whether he has spoken to Rose about the criticism, but it was clear he didn’t like what he has been hearing. Rose said on Saturday that he hasn’t paid much attention to the criticism, but Noah and the rest of his teammates have made it a point to stand up for Rose’s decision not to play. ‘He can say that he doesn’t (listen to it),’ Noah said. ‘I think he’s dealing with it unbelievable. He’s tough as nails, man. He’s not budging. He doesn’t let none of that affect him; whether it’s praise or people judging him about his decision, he’s the same. He’s the same, and I really respect that because I don’t think a lot of people could deal with the things that he deals with on a daily basis.'”