Bulls' title chances take major hit without Rose

Derrick Rose was on top of the world four years ago when he became the youngest player in league history to capture the MVP award. He's now headed for his third knee surgery, further casting doubt on his basketball career. 

It's devastating what's happened to one of the league's most gifted and athletic players, but the show must go on.

The Chicago Bulls have essentially been the same team with or without Rose on the court in terms of offensive and defensive efficiency, but his internal replacements, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks, don't offer the same level of upside. And neither does Nate Robinson, the best available free-agent guard, who reportedly has interest in joining Chicago. 

Rose has shown flashes this season, albeit in spurts, of the star player he once was, like when he ditched the long-range shooting and dominated the San Antonio Spurs in January by attacking the basket. The Bulls simply don't have a replacement at point capable of carrying the offensive burden and taking over crucial, must-win games. 

That could especially matter come playoff time.

No team in the East wants to finish as the No. 4 or No. 5 seed, as the road to the second round appears relatively easy for any of the conference's top three squads. But that's where Chicago could be headed and it was a spot that was looking increasingly likely even before Rose went down.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are surging, winners of 17 of their last 19, thanks to shrewd in-season pickups and a healthy LeBron James playing at his customary MVP-level. Cleveland's chances of winning the Central Division further improved, setting the Bulls up for a potential first-round matchup with the Washington Wizards, the lone East team – unlikely to have home court in the first round – that has the best chance of pulling off an upset and advancing. 

But a case can be made that Rose's absence doesn't necessarily spell all gloom and doom. For starters, as unlikely as it would be that Rose plays again this season, there's at least a chance he does - until the team provides a clear recovery timeline.

Additionally, it's not like Rose was playing at an All-Star, let alone MVP, level. 

Rose was attacking less, taking fewer close-range shots in the paint – 0-to-3 feet from the basket – than at any point in his career, instead settling for more perimeter jumpers. And while he's converted 3-pointers at a career-high clip, he hasn't done so efficiently. His true shooting percentage ranks 56th out of 73 qualified point guards, while his player efficiency rating ranks 22nd. Rose's 40.7-percent mark from the field is the worst of his career, as is his offensive rating per 100 possessions (excluding his 10-game sample from 2013-14). He hasn't been a plus on the defensive end, either.

With Jimmy Butler, the team's leading scorer, morphing into an All-Star and Pau Gasol enjoying one of his finest seasons in years, the Bulls – who have the league's best defense since the start of the month – still have capable offensive leaders. 

Chicago is relatively healthy and could chug through the first round, as its been expected to do, sans Rose. 

But its title aspirations have taken a major hit, if not evaporated, in the top-heavy East. The big picture is where Rose's condition could affect the organization most - the talented yet oft-injured guard is owed more than $40 million for the next two seasons. 

Rose's injury not only significantly hurts the Bulls' chances of winning this season, but his contract could prove crippling moving forward.