Rose, Noah ready to get back to Bulls business

Derrick Rose told the East coaches he couldn't play in the fourth quarter of Sunday's NBA All-Star Game because his back was tightening up.

The night before the all-star break began, Rose suffered a bruised right hip when he was knocked out of the air by a hard foul from Orlando's Dwight Howard and crash-landed on the court.

The all-star ending is one thing. Real games that count in the standings are another. So Rose expects to be in the starting lineup when the Bulls host the New York Knicks on tonight at the United Center.

"I've got to fight through it, no matter what," Rose said. "We need these games. I'm going to play."

Center Joakim Noah, who skipped the last four games before the break to rest a sore left foot, tentatively vowed to play. He was sporting a tan Monday at the Berto Center, the result of a weekend spent in the Bahamas. Noah suggested to reporters that walking in the sand actually helped his plantar fasciitis.

"Yeah, I'm expecting to play," Noah said. "I think we'll just see tomorrow how it feels. Hopefully there's no swelling. I'm not 100 percent yet, but it feels better than it did a couple weeks ago when I was playing. I'm just not in great shape right now."

Noah participated in the first half of Monday's practice at the Berto Center. Rose skipped the whole thing. The other Bulls practiced, including rookie forward Taj Gibson, who also has been plagued by plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

The Bulls (25-26) are about to play four games in five nights for the second time in three weeks. But a friendly schedule offers a nice chance to make a move in the standings.

In the first eight games after the break, the Bulls will face seven teams that are well below .500, starting with a home-and-home series against the Knicks. After Thursday's trade deadline, the Bulls visit Minnesota, then return home to face Philadelphia. Next week brings Washington, Indiana twice and Portland at home.

"I think this is a big month for us," Noah said. "It's a tough stretch because you just come back from the all-star break. Guys get some rest and sometimes that rest isn't a good thing. I know I needed it."

As eager as he is to play, Noah promised to keep a level head about the need to rest his sore foot.

"You have to look at the big picture and I want to be ready when it really counts," he said. "I don't want to rush it, come (back) early and feel the way I felt 10 days ago when I was just limping around on the court."

Even though he was less than 100 percent, Rose became the first Bulls player to participate in the All-Star Game since Michael Jordan in 1998. Rose produced 8 points and 4 assists in 15 minutes of action.

"It was real important just to see how it was," Rose said. "My first All-Star Game, they were kidding around, talking about if my first shot would be an airball."

His first shot turned out to be a made layup. Asked about his all-star experience, Rose admitted he spent more time watching the action on the massive video board at Dallas Cowboys Stadium than watching the real players while he sat on the bench.

He also didn't get much in the way of an apology from Howard.

"He said he'd send me a text, but I changed my number, so I didn't get the text," Rose said. "It was just a good foul. That's what he's supposed to do when a little guy goes to the hole, try to block the shot. That was really up to me because I opened up too much.

"I'm going to continue to attack. That's my game, I can't change it."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Bulls game day</p>

<p class="News">Bulls vs. New York Knicks at the United Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday</p>

<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Channel 9</p>

<p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WMVP 1000-AM</p>

<p class="News"><b>Update:</b> The Knicks (19-32) were starting to heat up back in December but headed into the all-star break with 4-12 record in their last 16 games. PF David Lee (20.0 points, 11.4 rebounds) was an all-star, while former DePaul SF Wilson Chandler (15.5 ppg) continues to improve and Al Harrington (17.8 ppg) still comes off the bench firing shots. These teams split two games in December and meet again Wednesday.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Next: </b>New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday</p>

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