The question "Just how close is Derrick Rose to returning?" has been one that has hounded Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau all season.
His latest answer?
''He's right where he should be,'' Thibodeau told the Chicago Sun-Times this week when speaking about Rose's progress in rehabbing his ACL and getting back on the Bulls' active roster.
Rose, who tore his ACL last year during the playoffs, has been cleared to take full contact on the court recently. He can run, he can jump, he can cut and he can take physical contact during game play.
However, the former 2009 Rookie of the Year and 2010-11 league MVP hasn't gotten past the last obstacle-full-court five-on-five scrimmages, which are the full simulation of NBA playing conditions.
''We haven't done anything full court [in practice],'' Thibodeau said. ''We have an early group that comes in. We get some work done there, so we feel like we have enough to get the things done that we want to get done, so he's doing fine.''
The Bulls are continuing to handle Rose with care, knowing that the explosive point guard is the key to making their very good team-only a half-game behind Indiana for the Central Division crown-into a potential championship threat.
Once Rose starts participating in five-on-five practices, he should be cleared to go if his knee holds up under the tests the next day. Although, Thibodeau cautions, there is no sure fire way how to best simulate a live NBA game, so they will be relying on Rose to communicate everything with them.
It doesn't appear that Rose will be ready anytime before the All-Star break this weekend, and with no date set yet for the 24-year-old superstar's return, there is still no telling when he will be back.
''Yeah, he's on his schedule for his rehab,'' Thibodeau said. ''When I feel like he's [ready to go], when our organization feels like he's ready to go, when he feels like he's ready to go, he'll go. But he's not going to be measured against anyone else's timetable other than his own. And we'll know when it's right.''