Rose still a game-time decision heading into Toronto

Someone could be very disappointed by the time Friday night in Toronto rolls around.

If it was up to Derrick Rose, the right hamstring tweak suffered on Monday would be an afterthought, and he would be starting against the Raptors. The decision-makers for the Bulls, however, sounded like protecting million-dollar investments from themselves was a smarter way to do business.

“If I could go right now, if the game was today, I’d be playing,’’ Rose said, following the Thursday afternoon practice. “Like I said, I’m not worried about that. It’s taking my time, not pushing myself, and like I said, not extending myself.

“It’s not a concern at all. I think everything I do or if I get hurt, it can be anything, it’s going to be blown out of proportion. I’m doing fine and it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.’’

Easy for Rose to say.

Playing 18 months without the 2011 MVP point guard after he blew his anterior cruciate ligament out in the 2012 playoffs, however, has put the franchise on better-safe-than-sorry watch, and that’s why coach Tom Thibodeau was sounding like Rose could be a spectator when the team heads up North, especially with a game against Indiana the following night.

“He said he feels better,’’ Thibodeau said of Rose. “But he just wants to make sure. You have to be careful with that.

“We want to make sure he’s healthy enough to play. It’s whenever he’s ready to play. Then he’ll play. We’re not going to jump ahead and speculate. He’s just getting treatment. Work, see what you can do. If you feel healthy enough to go, you go. If you don’t, you get time off.’’

The Bulls will have a morning shootaround in Toronto, and the feeling is that Rose’s status will be made very clear by the time that’s over.

“You just want to make sure he’s completely healthy,’’ Thibodeau said. “He’s been off for 18 months. That’s a long time to be off. There are going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. Put everything you have into each day and go from there.’’