When LeBron James broke up the Big 3 in Miami to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference became a wide open race. The Chicago Bulls are near the top of that mix after adding Pau Gasol to their loaded roster; still though, the healthy return of former MVP Derrick Rose remains the most important piece to their puzzle.
After missing all of the 2011-12 season rehabbing from a torn ACL, and all but 10 games of last season with a torn meniscus, Rose is back in practice and hoping to acclimate himself with high-level competition again by playing for a spot on Team USA, which will participate in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. According to his head coach Tom Thibodeau, Rose looks like he should be able to make the team but isn't back to his former self yet.
Coach K hears D-Rose in "great shape."
"As long as it goes well, obviously from a talent standpoint," Thibodeau said to The Chicago Sun-Times. "But there's rust that he has to shake off.
"He looked good in the summer league practices. He put a lot of work in. He spent a lot of time shooting. So I'm expecting him to play well [at USA camp] and then the ultimate decision will be made by Mr.Jerry] Colangelo. So hopefully he sees it that way."
Rose's stats in those 10 games last year fell off a cliff as he worked his way back. He averaged just 15.9 points per game on 35 percent shooting from the field and experienced dips in rebounding (3.2 per game) and assists (4.3).
Even if he returns to form slowly this season, he'll have an improved supporting cast. Gasol replaces the amnestied Carlos Boozer, a productive player in some respects but a sieve defensively. The Bulls also signed foreign draft pick Nikola Mirotic, who was taken No. 23 overall in 2011 by the Rockets before being traded to the Timberwolves, then dealt again to Chicago.
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