Having already missed an entire 82-game season, there remains the belief that Chicago Bulls star guard Derrick Rose won't suit up at all this season, and with the playoffs set to start Saturday, it's highly possible.
However, among the Bulls coaching staff remains the hope that Rose will join them at some point during the postseason. They've yet to rule out a possible return during the first round of the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets.
With growing hope expressed by teammates that Derrick Rose could step on the court for Game 1 of the playoffs, coach Tom Thibodeau kept that possibility alive. "It could be," Thibodeau said. "He's still not ready. We feel good about the guys we do have, and we just want to keep improving and let Derrick handle his rehab and just be ready for whoever we're facing." The Bulls closed out the regular season without Rose. He went through his usual pregame routine before the game Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. Joakim Noah has maintained all season that he thought Rose would play, and Carlos Boozer was the latest player to express that sentiment.
But it's all up to Rose. If he reaches the point where he's not thinking and just reacting, he's a go. "Whenever he's ready, we're going to welcome him back because, obviously, he adds a lot to the team," Thibodeau said. "It's the same as [Noah] and Taj [Gibson]. They come back and they're playing limited minutes, but it's a big plus to the team just because of what their strengths are. All those guys are team-oriented, and it makes your team a lot better."
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