Ankle won’t be a problem for Rose
Derrick Rose participated in Tuesday’s practice at the Berto Center, showing no signs of an injured ankle.
He put a scare into the Bulls during the waning seconds of Monday’s Game 1 loss to Atlanta when he stumbled on Jamal Crawford’s foot and turned the left ankle he already sprained in the first-round series against Indiana.
“I woke up this morning feeling great,” Rose said. “At practice, I worked out afterward, so I’m good.”
Rose was not favoring his ankle at all as he shot around and coach Tom Thibodeau said there was no swelling. Game 2 is today at the United Center.
Carlos Boozer also felt good on Tuesday. He was questionable all week with a turf toe injury on his right foot, but played 35 minutes, finishing with 14 points and 8 rebounds.
“He was very active in practice, so that was encouraging,” Thibodeau said. “He’s got to get his timing. Once he gets his timing, I think he’ll be fine.”
Nothing for free:The fact that Derrick Rose didn#146;t shoot any free throws in Game 1 wasn#146;t the Bulls#146; biggest issue, but it#146;s clearly something they#146;d rather not repeat.#147;He#146;s got to attack more. I thought he settled for some shots,#148; coach Tom Thibodeau said. #147;But he#146;ll be ready. He studies. He#146;ll be prepared. I thought some drives, he didn#146;t go as hard as he usually does, but that will change.#148;Thibodeau talked again about how Rose is so athletic, he may draw contact, but not always get the foul calls. That#146;s been a problem since Rose arrived in the NBA, but he went to the foul line more often in the second half of the season.#147;I think he#146;s got to make the officials make the call,#148; Thibodeau added. #147;When he does that, that#146;s when he#146;s at his best.#147;He has the ability to take the hit and still get it up and sometimes he doesn#146;t get the call, but when he#146;s attacking the basket and he#146;s going north and south and not dancing with the ball, he#146;s impossible to stop. So that#146;s what we#146;ve got to get him to do.#148;Hawks fly high and low:In games against the remaining playoff teams, the Bulls went 13-5 during the regular season, while Atlanta was 5-13. The Hawks also lost 20 of their last 31 games. So why are they suddenly playing so well now?#147;If you looked at us in the regular season, we are a roller coaster,#148; Hawks center Al Horford said in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. #147;We come out and play great, the other game we get blown out by 50, and so people are saying, #145;Same Hawks again.#146; And I can understand that.#147;But I think the guys have come to realize we have an opportunity to do something special. We are just embracing our chance to still be in the playoffs.#148;Fans and teammates:At least nine Bulls players attended Derrick Rose#146;s MVP ceremony at the Marriott Lincolnshire. Rasual Butler even shot video from the back of the room.The players must be working hard during the playoffs. At one point, Ronnie Brewer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and a couple assistant coaches sat on the ground and leaned against the Kia automobile that is Rose#146;s prize for winning MVP.The car is being donated to Chicago Meals on Wheels.View from Atlanta:Columnist Mark Bradley from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided this opinion of the Hawks#146; Game 1 performance:#147;I just want to say: I#146;ve been watching the Hawks for a long, long time, and I don#146;t know that I#146;ve seen them play any better than they did last night since the epic 1988 Eastern semis against the Celtics.#148;