Well, at least it wasn’t the knee.
Derrick Rose is iffy for tonight’s home opener against the New York Knicks, with the 2011 MVP dealing with a sore neck. That was how Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau presented it Thursday afternoon.
Rose had a little different opinion on the matter, however.
“Oh hell yeah, for sure I know I’m going to play,’’ Rose said. “It’s just that I have to get loose.’’
Rose missed the preseason game in Rio three weeks ago, when the point guard’s surgically-repaired left knee came down with some soreness on the flight over. The decision was made to sit him, get him back to Chicago, and then go from there.
Since then, there have been no setbacks with the knee, including the 34-plus minutes he put in against Miami Tuesday night.
“Yeah, that’s what I would expect,’’ Rose said of coming out of that game with some general soreness. “But I don’t know what play did it or whatever. My body just has to get used to playing. My knee is good. It’s just my neck.’’
New that Thibodeau obviously didn’t want out.
The coach was first asked if everyone was healthy for tonight, and responded, “Good … we’ll see.’’
When he was then asked if Rose participated in the shootaround, well, typical Thibodeau.
“No he did not,’’ he responded.
Reporter: “Is there something wrong with his knee?’’
Thibodeau: “No, his knee is fine.’’
Reporter: “Why did he not participate?’’
Thibodeau: “Um, just nicked up a little bit.’’
Reporter: “Where?’’
Thibodeau: “His body.’’
Reporter: “Upper body or lower body?’’
Thibodeau: “His body.’’
Rose stopped the insanity by just shedding some basic truth on the subject.
“I’ve been getting treatment the last couple of days, even this morning,’’ Rose said. “It’s just getting my blood going, just being in the arena and seeing how much attention there is in the building, just checking out the atmosphere.’’
