Maybe Joakim Noah sees something the rest of the Chicago Bulls braintrust doesn't, or maybe are just too afraid to admit.
"He's doing a lot more than just shooting around," Noah told ESPN of injured star teammate Derrick Rose. "He's in the gym non-stop. Just working on his body, getting better, getting better, and that's what it's all about. He's a big part of this team, and he has that mentality of just having no regrets. Just giving everything you got. If you can go, you can go, and if you can't you did everything you could to make it. That's what it's all about."
Noah's comments were a lot less measured than those of coach Tom Thibodeau who would only admit to the website the youngest MVP in NBA history is "running on a treadmill," making a shot here or there."
Thibodeau later stressed to ESPN "he's still nowhere close to practicing or anything like that, bet he's doing well overall."
Thibodeau spent some time after Tuesday's shootaround watching Rose take extra jumpers on the United Center court, but when asked if he might soon be allowed to return to practice responded "most likely not... but we'll see."
The 25-year-old Rose has been traveling with the Bulls since early last month and teammates insist he has managed to keep his spirits high as he works through rehab for his second season-ending knee injury in as many seasons.
Later, Noah was posed the same question about Rose returning any time soon or at least by the playoffs.
"That's not my decision," he told ESPN. "That's nobody's decision. It's all about how he feels and regardless of what happens we're going to be supportive. He's working really hard. He's always around the team. Being a great leader, showing support to his teammates."
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