Derrick Rose Takes Full Contact At Practice
(CBS) In a crucial step to his return, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose took full contact and scrimmaged at practice Monday for the first time since his Feb. 27 surgery to remove the torn portion of his right medial meniscus.
Rose's full contact came in a four-on-four scrimmage, as the Bulls rested Pau Gasol, Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks. Rose was aggressive but needs to improve his conditioning, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
"Some good," Thibodeau said. "A little winded, which is to be expected. It was body on body, full court. It'll come. The more he does that, the faster it'll come.
"Physically, he feels good."
Since the surgery, Rose has maintained he'll return this season. The team gave him a timetable of four to six weeks to return after the surgery, and last Friday was the four-week mark. The Bulls have expressed a desire for him to get some regular-season action in so he'll be more prepared for the playoffs. Assuming no setbacks, it often takes a week or two for a player to return to game action after taking full contact.
The deciding factor on a return will be completely how Rose feels.
"Ultimately, he's got to feel comfortable," Thibodeau said. "Can't put him out there if he's not comfortable."
The Bulls have eight regular-season games left before the postseason starts on April 18. Chicago plays at Milwaukee on Wednesday, hosts Detroit on Friday and is at Cleveland on Sunday.
"He needs some practice time where he's taking contact on it," Thibodeau said of when Rose may return.
"We just take it day by day. We can't jump ahead."
Rose has played in 46 of Chicago's 74 games this season, as he's also dealt with ankle and hamstring injuries. He's averaging 18.4 points on 40.7 percent shooting.
The Bulls (45-29) are currently in third in the East.
