Boozer gets cast off, but return still unclear

Carlos Boozer took a couple of significant steps toward getting back on the court. But when his official Bulls debut will happen, exactly, still is unclear.

Boozer had the hard cast removed from his right hand, which suffered broken bones below the pinkie finger Oct. 2, and also had pins removed from the area Tuesday.

For now, all he knows for sure is he has started daily rehab sessions to increase the range of motion in his fingers and wrist, and he will have stitches removed next week.

“I got cleared to do a lot of running,” Boozer said Wednesday at the Berto Center. “I can't dribble, catch, shoot or carry anything yet, but those days are soon, so I'm looking forward to it.

“I'm going to take it one day at a time. I don't have a timetable yet, so to speak. Hopefully get the stitches out next week. I'm moving fast after that to get back on the court.”

Boozer, signed as a free agent from Utah, went through four days of double practices with his new teammates before suffering the injury. He did not play in any preseason games, so he has some catching up to do.

“As a player, you always think you learn the most by doing,” he said. “But you learn a lot by watching, too, and I've been able to learn a lot by watching. I'm not that far behind as far as my mental preparation.”

Boozer said his hand is stiff and a little swollen. He's having trouble moving the last two fingers on his right hand, which is why he's working with a physical therapist daily.

“His leadership has been fantastic,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He's doing everything he can. He's supporting his teammates. He's here early; he stays late. He's in the locker room, traveling with the team. All the work he can do in terms of conditioning, he is doing.”

Thibs goes real big:

During the first half of Monday's win over Portland, coach Tom Thibodeau used about as big a lineup as the Bulls can send onto the court: Joakim Noah (6-feet-11) and Omer Asik (7-feet) inside, Luol Deng (6-9) and James Johnson (6-9) on the wings and Derrick Rose at point.

It's a little ironic that after signing three shooting guards during the summer with Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and Keith Bogans, the Bulls tried using none of the above in the third game of the season.

“I think (Johnson) is capable of playing two, three and four,” Thibodeau said. “I know he's capable of guarding two, three and four. So he'll get looks there.

“I'm also not afraid to play Luol there. I think Luol can play the two. It gives you some post-up advantages, and he's already shown he's capable of guarding actually four positions.”

Rose sees open people:

While the Blazers sent frequent double-teams at Derrick Rose on Monday, the third-year point guard responded by matching his career high with 13 assists. Heading into that game, Rose was averaging a league-best 33.5 points.

“My rookie year, I remember I wasn't able to make those passes,” Rose said. “If the double team was coming, I didn't know what to do.

“But now I'm kind of used to it and I know pick and roll. Just looking at all the other players in the league that get double-teamed, the passes that are open are usually the corner and the post.”