Derrick Rose Taking it Easy, Probably Will Play Starters Against Philadelphia 76ers Friday
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose was listed as a starter during the team's game against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday but after 30 minutes, he resigned to the bench due to ailing ankles. Rose had sat out the previous two games because of his ankles but the team is hopeful that he will be able to play on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
"Of course I wasn't 100-percent tonight but I felt like we needed this win. And just try to come out here and do anything it takes to get this win with my teammates," Rose said.
Despite ankle problems, Rose was still able to attend practice Monday this week and a shootaround Tuesday.
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"He practiced yesterday, he practiced today, he warmed up. He's not quite there. We'll see where he is tomorrow. This is all part of it. He'll be fine," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau after the Wednesday game.
"I really couldn't get to the hole as much as I wanted to. I might have had no fast-break points or anything but I was able to still affect the game and draw people in with my double-teams to help my teammates out," said Rose.
Rose is coming out of two major knee surgeries in the last 18 months and despite what he says, the team's approach towards this circumstance is a wise one. They are being conservative with how they use Rose as his injuries could completely cripple him for the rest of the season should he overdo it.
"So the only thing I can do and control is myself and my work ethic and control what's going on here. We're what, 4-1 now. So I'm not worrying about myself, just trying to worry about the team and just trying to put us in a good position to be contenders for the rest of the year," says Rose.
