Derrick Rose will not play vs. Rockets due to ankle injury

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Derrick Rose as they face their biggest challenge of the season Thursday night against the Houston Rockets.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that sources told him Rose will miss the game due to ankle soreness. It’s unclear at this time whether or not the soreness is occurring on the same ankle that he sprained earlier this season against the Milwaukee Bucks, but it seems like a safe assumption. Injuries like this can linger and it takes very little to re-aggravate them. Rose also has a lengthy injury history

With Rose out, the Cavs will turn to Iman Shumpert at point guard. Shumpert just returned to the lineup after dealing with a knee injury and was effective in the Cavs’ Tuesday night win over the Bucks.

If Rose has been held back by his ankle recently, you wouldn't be able to tell from his style of play. He has attacked the basket with varying degrees of success every time he touches the ball with almost no play making. It's pretty clear that this is just who he is as a player, so if an ankle injury is limiting his ability to make layups then there's little hope for him having a positive impact on the game.

The fact that Shumpert is starting over Jose Calderon also shows how little faith the team has in the point guard. Despite electing to keep him over Richard Jefferson, there doesn't appear to be many situations where he will see the court, at least for the time being.