LOS ANGELES – According to Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, there was progress made with the left hamstring injury to Derrick Rose, but not enough for the 2011 MVP to play tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Meanwhile, Rose’s mindset when it comes to injuries is unchanged.
“For sure, especially when you have knee problems or knee injuries,’’ Rose said, when asked about making sure everything is healed up 100 percent before he goes back onto the court. “Hamstrings are huge in the process of coming back. They control everything in terms of accelerating. You need them a lot, especially the way that I play.’’
It will be the second consecutive game Rose misses, with him now missing six of the 11 games the Bulls have played.
And while it seems like another setback in his comeback from back-to-back season-ending knee surgeries, Rose thinks there will be plenty of time this season to make up for it.
“No, it’s too early to say that [this is a major setback],’’ Rose said. “Every game I felt like I had control of myself and the game as far as playing the way I wanted to play. Missing shots is part of it. But I felt whenever I was out there, it wasn’t the rust where I look terrible. I was just missing shots. If anything, it helped my confidence knowing that being out two years and being able to come back and play with these great athletes that are on this level. It gave me confidence every game and every day.’’
Both Jimmy Butler (shoulder) and Pau Gasol (left calf strain) were listed as probable against the Clippers.
