Derrick Rose Back For Bulls; Niko Mirotic Removed From Starting Lineup
(CBS) Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is back in the starting lineup for Friday's home game against the Mavericks after missing Thursday's contest with a strained left patellar tendon, while in another move, coach Fred Hoiberg has demoted struggling forward Nikola Mirotic back to a bench role.
Tony Snell will start at small forward for the Bulls one night after Mirotic scored seven points on 2-of-13 shooting and had five turnovers in an overtime win at Philadelphia. Mirotic had a rough December, shooting 36 percent in that month, then started January strong before tailing off recently. Much of Mirotic's playing time has come at small forward lately, and Hoiberg expressed a desire to use him more again at his natural power forward position.
"The big thing is talking to him, trying to build up his confidence," Hoiberg said. "He's going to be fine. I'm confident in that. We'll get him back out there probably a little more at the four, a more natural position for him and look to build some confidence, utilize him in a little different manner, setting some ball screens and popping."
Mirotic is averaging 11.0 points on 39 percent shooting for the season.
Bulls big man Pau Gasol is also returning to the starting lineup after not traveling to Philadelphia as he deals with a sore shoulder and sore Achilles. Joakim Noah is moving back to his role on the second unit.
