His words(at least how people are interpreting them), the media reaction, and how he still plays do not match.
In every game that he's played this year, he has taken multiple falls, sacrifices his body, and turns on the jets as much as he ever has.
Like I said many times before. People who want excuses to hate on Rose, will find them. It's low hanging fruit. Game-1 back from injury the same trolls will go, "he's shooting 20%". Twists his ankles when falling on someone's foot, the trolls will say, "Look, he's made of glass". When he plays hard, the trolls say, "He's stupid for playing hard on rehabed knees". When he plays less aggressively, the trolls say, "He's selfish by worrying about his health". When he initially hurt himself, trolls said, "He should take the whole season off because it makes no sense to come back, even if the Doctors clear him(then cite Doctors clearing Deng early too)." Then when he takes the season off, the trolls say, "He needs to come back". And my favorite, the trolls will ignore most facts, and focus on the most debatable. Why? They are trolls. Waste of time.
Rose says he wants to preserve his body for after his career. Seems like a rational goal to me. I don't see his critics running around with casts, braces, and bruises(from trying hard). Rose is far from an intellectual, so you have critics taking the low hanging fruit and simply rubbing it in, constantly. Wow, much brilliance.
Actions speak louder than words, and he's not holding back in game. People want to make this a Practice 2.0, when it's not.