POINT GOD? ONLY HE KNOWS
Rose says he still has some pain in his left knee
Derrick Rose said after the shootaround Thursday that he might be close to returning, but ‘‘nobody knows but God.’’
An even bigger concern is lingering pain in his left knee.
“Still about the same, where when you warm up a little bit, it will be loose,’’ Rose said. ‘‘Then the activity will pick up, and it gets back sore, so just going through that.’’
It was only the fourth time Rose has met with local media since training camp but the second time in the last two weeks.
That doesn’t mean he’s closer to a return, however, despite his increased level of play in practice the last week.
“Not at all,’’ Rose said when asked if he had a date circled on the calendar. “It can be tomorrow if I feel like I can play the next game.’’
It definitely wasn’t on Thursday against the Trail Blazers.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has been stressing that there’s no drop-dead date, and Rose agreed.
“Not at all,’’ Rose said when asked if he was running out of time. “I feel like when I’m ready to come back, I’ll be ready, no matter when it is.
“I’ve got to be patient, just listen to my body, just be patient.’’
Teammates said last week that a big hurdle has been a lack of the same explosiveness around the rim. Thibodeau reiterated that Wednesday, and Rose discussed the situation.
“It’s coming,’’ he said. “I’m not panicking or anything. If anything, I think I’m going to be a better player. Like I said, I’m just being patient and doing all the right things, really eating right and getting rest.’’
With the hope that the new Rose could be even better.
“Yeah, I’m way stronger,’’ he said. “But just seeing how I’m going to put that into my game, I don’t know yet. When we’re playing five-onfive, just trying to pick the right spots and just really trying to find out how strong I am.’’
That remains an unknown with only 15 regular-season games left.
“Bad,’’ Rose said when asked how badly he wanted to play, “but knowing that my health is the biggest key, knowing that I’m only 24, got the whole future in front of me, so just trying to take my time.’’
He has practiced with the team for the last month, so that works in his favor. His conditioning and ability to step in would be as seamless as the Bulls could hope for. His teammates have been raving about his performances in scrimmages, especially an improved outside shot from all the extra work he has put in. But there is one hang-up. “Sometimes you think a little bit when you’re one-onone out there,’’ he said, ‘‘and that’s how I’ll know that I’m ready to play: when I’m not out there thinking. I’ll just be out there reacting.’’