It could be Wednesday night at the Orlando Magic. It could Thursday night at the Miami Heat. Or maybe it could be Saturday night at home versus the lowly Philadelphia 76ers. Which would be a great opponent for Derrick Rose to ease back into things.
Rose told ESPN on ABC sideline reporter Lisa Salters that he could return “likely sometime this week.”
Rose said that he’s feeling good, with no pain, and no swelling in the knee that was operated on February 27th. The Chicago Bulls missed Derrick Rose for the 20th straight game yesterday, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-94. Since Rose went down with the meniscus tear, the Bulls are 10-10. For the season the Bulls are 17-14 without him (.548 winning percentage). With Derrick Rose that are 29-17 (.630 winning percentage). In 46 games this season, Rose has averaged 18.4 points per game, 41% FG, 29% 3-pt FG, 5 assists per game, in 31 minutes per game.
In addition to the three contests mentioned above, the Bulls have two games left in the regular season: at Brooklyn on April 13th and hosting Atlanta on April 15th.
It looks likely that Derrick Rose will get at least two games in before the playoffs start; but possibly three or four.
Speaking of three or four, that’s also where the seed Chicago will draw in the postseason. The Bulls will likely face either Washington again or maybe Milwaukee in the NBA playoffs.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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