Chicago Bulls fans are eagerly counting the days until they see the owner of the famous "No. 1" jersey, belonging to superstar point guard Derrick Rose, run fast breaks on the hardwood in Chicago once again.
However, as far as when Rose will return, all team management will say is that Rose is becoming more active in practices, remaining vague on a timetable when fans can expect the former league MVP back.
According to Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, Rose, who has been out of action since he tore his ACL on April 28 in the opening game of the NBA Playoffs, has been making steady strides in his physical recuperation as he works towards getting back on the court--which some expect could come at some point this season.
However, Thibodeau tells ESPN, despite that progress, Rose is "still a ways away from that, from the actual practice part."
"We'll see," Thibodeau told ESPN Chicago this week. "Once he starts doing more in practice then he'll be with us more, but right now the focus still has to be on his rehab and the things that he needs to do. He's got to do a lot of things off the court still. He's doing more and more on the court, which is encouraging, but he's still a ways away."
Without Rose after the first month of the season, the Bulls are holding a half-game lead in the NBA's Central Division at 14-10 win-loss record, which is only just ahead of the surging Milwaukee Bucks's 13-10 record. Chicago has also won seven of their last 10 games.
And yet, while the Bulls could surely use Rose's leadership and point guard experience, Thibodeau reminds all that caution is the operative word of the day, with no return date posted yet for Rose's imminent return.
"Derrick is concentrating on his rehab and at some point he'll join the team. But we can't be looking to Derrick for our motivation," Thibodeau told ESPN last week. "Derrick's taking care of what he has to take care of and the guys in that locker room have to take care of what they need to take care of. And we got to keep concentrating on our improvement. That's the big challenge for us."