With nine games to go before the end of the NBA regular season, the Chicago Bulls are already into the playoffs. The only question remains is whether they can hold on to the third spot or be dislodged by the fourth-running Toronto Raptors with less than three weeks remaining in their schedule.
With a 44-29 win-loss record as of March 25, the Bulls can no longer beat the front-running Atlanta Hawks, which is almost assured of the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The most that the Windy City franchise could go for is second spot, but only if LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers suddenly lost the appetite to win its remaining nine games.
The good news for Chicago is that Chief Bull Derrick Rose may be back before the season ends. That is an improvement over earlier prognosis that the superstar Bulls point guard may return in time for the playoffs.
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau says that things are looking up as far as the healing and recovery process of Derrick Rose is concerned. But he says that he is not putting pressure on his star point guard to return right away.
He says that the rest of the guys can still hold the fort for the Bulls but the return of Rose would really be good for team morale and ultimately the team’s chances in the playoffs.
No more pain and swelling
Rose said that there is no more pain and swelling in his surgically-repaired right knee which is a good sign. He says if things go according to plan, he may indeed be able to return before the end of the season, notes ESPN.
The Bulls point guard is looking at possibly returning in the last five games of the team in the regular season so that he can gain some level of rhythm before the playoffs begin. But then, he would like to take it step by step and does not want to risk anything at this point.
He said his priority right now is to get himself back in the court soon. Rose has been doing non-contact practice since two weeks ago and he may take on contact practice this week or next week at the latest. If things go according to plan and schedule, he might be able to start playing in two weeks time which is likely the last week of the regular season.
Considering that the Bulls only have nine games remaining in its regular schedule, Rose would really be hard pressed to play in its last five games. The most optimistic projection when he could play would be the last three or two games of the Bulls during the regular season, with five already an aggressive prediction.
Pau Gasol is hoping that Rose could be back before the end of the regular season so that he could put games under his belt before the playoffs get underway. Because that would be a plus for the team’s morale and also on the confidence of the Bulls point guard.