Come back soon, Derrick Rose.

Source: nwherald.com  

DEERFIELD – On second thought, you might want to wait at least one more game.

The Bulls will host the Boston Celtics at 8:30 p.m. today, which means that three-time All-Star Rajon Rondo will challenge whoever is starting at point guard for the Bulls. Fill-in starter C.J. Watson most likely will draw the assignment of guarding Rondo, but Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau refused to rule out Rose after he participated in a 90-minute practice Wednesday at the Berto Center.

“We’ll see how he feels [today],” said Thibodeau, who watched closely as Rose took part in his first full practice since injuring his groin March 12. “His speed and his quickness look very good. I thought it was very encouraging.”

As badly as the Bulls and their fans want to see Rose return, everyone involved might be best served to wait until Rondo leaves town. Rose has missed 11 consecutive games because of a strained right groin, and chasing around another top-tier playmaker in his first game back would represent a rough transition.

In a brief interview with reporters after practice, Rose admitted that he was not yet 100 percent healthy. He answered five questions before a team official guided him away from the cameras so he could take part in strength-and-conditioning drills.

“I felt good,” said Rose, who walked without a limp after practice. “But me playing [today], I don’t know. I was able to run a little bit more but not at my top speed.”

However, Rose’s teammates joked that he still was buzzing up and down the court.

Take Bulls guard Richard Hamilton, who was asked to rank Rose’s speed during practice on a scale of 1 being the slowest to 10 being the fastest.

“On Derrick’s bad days, he’s still a 10,” Hamilton said with a laugh. “He possesses all of the attributes. When he’s 100 percent, he’s way over 10. Like I said, him not at full speed is still faster than probably 98 percent of the league.”

Probably so, but Rondo might be in the other 2 percent.

The Celtics’ 26-year-old point guard reminded the Bulls of his ability Feb. 12 in Boston when he went off for 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 95-91 Celtics win. Rondo is second in the NBA in assists (11.0 a game) and steals (2.2 a game).

Thibodeau won an NBA championship as a Celtics assistant coach in 2008, when Rondo was developing his skills as a second-year player.
“Rondo is Rondo,” Thibodeau said. “The guy is spectacular.”
When healthy, Rose is even better.
The Bulls have the NBA’s best record with 11 regular-season games remaining despite playing for prolonged stretches without Rose and Hamilton. Another week of rest could help Rose to attain full speed without aggravating his injured groin.
In the meantime, Rose is as curious as anyone to learn whether he can play pain-free or be forced to deal with a nagging groin injury for the rest of the season.
The answer could determine how far the Bulls are able to go in the playoffs.
“This is my first time ever having this injury,” Rose said. “Usually people, after they have [healed from the injury], they don’t have it anymore. But my biggest [concern] is coming back too quick and reinjuring it again.”