Bulls holding out hope on Rose
The Bulls had no concrete answers Wednesday about Derrick Rose's latest knee surgery. They did not announce when the surgery will occur or a projected timetable for Rose's return.
A better answer should be available once the surgery is over. For now, there's hope Rose will be able to return before the end of the regular season.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said it's basically a recurrence of last year's medial meniscus tear in Rose's right knee. The repair didn't heal completely, or was knocked out of place, and needs to be done again.
Thibodeau said Bulls team doctor Brian Cole, who performed Rose's first two knee surgeries, will do the next one.
"I don't know what to say other than it's so unfair," Thibodeau said at the morning shootaround. "The guy has been through so much.
"Initially, the last procedure he had on the meniscus, we knew this was a possibility, and so unfortunately it didn't take and now they have to go back in and take care of it. We knew that could happen and it did, but our concern is with Derrick."
The team isn't sure exactly when this injury happened, but Rose played 33 minutes in Monday's win over Milwaukee, leaving with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter. After the game, he spoke to reporters in the locker room and walked away as though nothing was wrong.
That's a stark contract to his first meniscus tear, which happened Nov. 22, 2013, in Portland. After making a quick stop, Rose fell to the floor and limped to the bench, clearly injured.
Bulls hurt for Rose:
The overwhelming sentiment at the United Center was concern over Derrick Rose's well-being. Coach Tom Thibodeau said he'd been in touch with Rose via text message.
"It's unfortunate. I think you guys all know how the team cares about him," Thibodeau said. "It's one of the great characteristics about this team is how they care about each other. They've been down this road before in dealing with the serious injuries."
Kirk Hinrich will get an opportunity for more playing time, but he wasn't thinking too far ahead at Wednesday's shootaround.
"I'm still shocked," Hinrich said. "I had no idea that he had an injury like that yesterday at practice. Just feel for him. I can't imagine what he's gone through these last three years."
Pau Gasol wasn't around for the previous Rose knee injuries but shared the same sentiment.
"Very tough news, unexpected. Heartbreaking in a way because of how much he has been through for the last couple years," Gasol said.
Deng from long distance:
Sad news travels fast. Dozens of NBA players tweeted messages about Derrick Rose's injury. Former Bulls forward Luol Deng weighed in Wednesday.
"Honestly, I was almost in tears. It's different when you know the guy that well," Deng said, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "He's a tough guy. I think he'll be fine. But it's just three seasons in a row. He wants to do what he loves, but things keep happening."
Deng's Miami teammate, Dwyane Wade, said he heard the news about Rose from Cleveland's LeBron James.
"I was sick for him," Wade said. "I think for the basketball world, man, everyone is rooting for Derrick to get back on the court and be the player we all became accustomed to him being."
Bull horns:
There were plenty of Bulls birthdays Wednesday: Jerry Reinsdorf turned 79, Joakim Noah is 30 and E'Twaun Moore is 26. … With 98 points in Wednesday night's victory, Charlotte has now scored fewer than 100 in 18 straight games against the Bulls. That's now the longest active such streak in the NBA, according to Stats, LLC.