DEERFIELD – The mental anguish Derrick Rose endures day in and day out is worse than the physical restrictions he must overcome.

Few things, if any, intimidate Rose on the basketball court, but nothing has been more daunting than the prospect of testing his surgically repaired left knee.

“Right now cutting is the hardest thing in the world to do,” Rose said. “I’m scared of it. And right when I think I get that out of my system, I think I’ll be pretty close, where I have to prove to them that I’m ready to play. Hopefully, it won’t take the whole year.”