by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

If there’s one thing Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has learned while recovering from a devastating knee injury, it’s undoubtedly been patience.

“Before, I didn’t have patience at all,” Rose said back in October. “That’s why I wanted to be in the (NBA) after my first year in college (at Memphis). That’s why I want a championship so bad. I have to prove to doctors and trainers that I’m going to go out there and feel alright. It’s going to take time.”

Time is something the Bulls might not have without their superstar point guard, who has been rehabbing his knee since an April ACL tear. And, every day it eats at him—the pain that he can’t be out on the basketball court helping his teammates.

“I know God has a plan, he does things for a reason,” said Rose, channeling the adversity. “Hopefully the reason is for me to get stronger and come back a better player.”

With his return looming over the organization, Chicago has had to face the challenge of playing without the focal point of its offense head on, getting off to a pedestrian 7-7 start, thus proving that Rose’s team will have to learn patience as well.

“Not one individual is going to fill Derrick’s shoes,” Bulls forward Luol Deng said. “I think collectively we understand the situation.”

The situation is that the Bulls look nothing like the team that finished tied for the NBA’s best record (50-16) last season when they won 18 games without an oft-injured Rose. Despite returning all starters besides Rose—Deng, Joakim Noah, Richard Hamilton and Carlos Boozer as well as sixth man Taj Gibson—much of the roster has been reshaped.

Chicago had one of the best bench’s in the NBA last season. In the offseason the team lost sharpshooter Kyle Korver, defensive specialist Ronnie Brewer, backup point guard C.J. Watson and big man Omer Asik. Their replacements—veteran Kirk Hinrich, Nate Robinson, Marco Belineli, Vladimir Radmanovic, Nazr Mohammed and rookie Marquis Teague—have all been applicable fill-ins, but the chemistry has been lacking.

“Our second unit is not cutting it right now and we have … [For more on Derrick Rose expects to come back a better player, click here.]