Derrick Rose will play in the Bulls’ final west-coast game for this early swing, where a win against the Portland Trail Blazers will make it a successful early-season voyage.
“Derrick’s gonna go tonight,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He felt good after the last couple days of practice.”
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Other than general soreness and fatigue after a couple days of practice, Rose’s left ankle seems to have recovered on track and he’s only missed two games in the past week.
He doesn’t appear to have any minute restrictions but his play and his wind will be monitored by the coaching staff. The Bulls will be without backup point guard Aaron Brooks (hamstring) so if Rose is feeling good, he could play heavy minutes against the high-scoring tandem of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who combine for over 45 points per game.
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The only fly in this ointment could be that Portland is the place where he injured his meniscus two years ago, almost two years to the day. It cost him the 2013-14 season after playing just 10 games, and although it would be understandable for the Moda Center to bring about a few bad memories, Rose isn’t letting on to such fears.
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“Nah, can’t think about that,” Rose said. “The past is the past. It could’ve happened anywhere, just happened here. I haven’t thought about it until you said it. But I kinda leave that in the past.”