Tag: derrick rose

We’ve all accepted that Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is gone again. We’ll see him next season — presumably. But it’ll still be fascinating to hear what D-Rose himself has to say about his injuries, state of mind and more. Here’s the Chicago Tribune reporting:

After Thursday’s morning shootaround, Derrick Rose will address reporters for the first time since knee surgery ended a second straight season for him.

Expect resolve.

That’s the message coach Tom Thibodeau said the youngest most valuable player in NBA history has projected since returning to be around his teammates on Tuesday’s offday.

“Frankly, we have to take on Derrick’s approach,” Thibodeau said. “Derrick already has moved past it. He’s thinking about what he has to do the rest of the way, this summer, being ready for next year, talking to me about the team, what we have to do.

“And that’s what I see from our team. I don’t see anyone hanging their head. He’s not going to be here. We know that. We have more than enough here. Just concentrate on what we have to concentrate on; we know what we have to do.”

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times on Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose feeling perfectly healthy these days:

The hamstring injury that kept him out of Friday’s game at Toronto seems to be behind him after he helped the Bulls rout Indiana on Saturday with 6-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

“He did [everything at the shootaround,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He feels pretty good.’’

Asked if he’s 100 percent, the Bulls star said, “I think so. I was out there just taking my time [against Indiana on Saturday], and really being patient. It allowed me to play great.’’

It’s early. The NBA regular season only began this past Tuesday. And Derrick Rose is still working his way back into form. Here’s the Chicago Tribune:

Tom Thibodeau uttered the phrase twice, as if to reassure himself. Or, at least, a worried fan base.

“Some of it is bobbles,” the Chicago Bulls’ coach said. “There’s some rust. He’ll be fine. He’ll be fine.”

Thibodeau was discussing Derrick Rose’s turnovers, which on Saturday featured eight against the Philadelphia 76ers. That included five in the final quarter, all in the final 7 minutes, 59 seconds.

Rose ranks second behind the Warriors’ Stephen Curry with 5.7 turnovers per game. Curry is at 6.3.

Chicago Bulls fans are very excited to have Derrick Rose back healthy and ready to roll. And D-Rose himself thinks the team already has great energy. Here’s the Bulls.com Blog:

Rose said he and his teammates are excited and optimistic.

“No disrespect to any of my old teammates, but it seems like we’re way more focused this year,” Rose said. “I think we’re a different team than last year. Of course they learned how to win games without me. But I think we’re a totally different team where all the guys, they’re focused in. Everyone knows their role and I told you this team is totally opposite, where every guy comes in. Even the rookies, they’re acting like professionals when they come in. So for us, we have a great chance to contend for a title.”

The Bulls and NBA are better with Derrick Rose healthy, active, leaping over defenders and dunking on people’s heads. But coming back from major injury always produces questions. Well, here are some possible answers, via Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago.

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau believes after sitting out almost a year and a half, Derrick Rose is a better all-around player than he was before he injured his knee.

Thibodeau can see Rose has taken the next step in his development on and off the court.

“I think he’s gotten much stronger as a leader,” Thibodeau said before Rose scored 26 points in a preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. “And I’ve never worried about Derrick in terms of himself … but I think in setting the tone for the team, not tolerating others not doing their job. I think that’s probably his biggest growth.”

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is back. And while he does look rusty for stretches, his athletic ability appears as good as could be hoped, and even more interestingly, his outside shooting in preseason has opened eyes. Here’s K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

As far as coach Tom Thibodeau is concerned, there’s no secret why Derrick Rose is suddenly a candidate for the 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend.

And if that possibility sounds ridiculous, well, so are Rose’s numbers, which Wednesday featured him scoring 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter of a 104-95 exhibition victory over the Thunder at Intrust Bank Arena.

On the night backcourt mate Jimmy Butler returned from injury, Rose struggled with his shot early. But he sank 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, including three in the final period. And he’s now 12-for-23 from 3-point range during the Bulls’ 7-0 preseason.

“You can’t imagine how much shooting this guy has done,” Thibodeau said. “Last year, he wasn’t playing in the games but he was shooting. He shot every day before practice, then in practice, then after practice. Then he’d go to the game and shoot some more.