Jaime Oppenheim
Are the Chicago Bulls getting healthy? The team has been without the services of guard Derrick Rose and forwards Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson in recent weeks, but progress is being made off the court. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, there’s reason for fans to be optimistic following Tuesday’s practice:
Thibodeau said Butler and Gibson practiced fully. Rose did part of practice.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 17, 2015
Thibodeau called it a "very good day" for all 3 injured players.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 17, 2015
Thibodeau said Rose is "on schedule, maybe even slightly ahead."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 17, 2015
The news couldn’t be much better for the Bulls, who have dropped five of their last six and are in danger of giving up home-court advantage of the first round of the playoffs. They only have a half game lead over the Wizards for the fourth seed in the East.
Rose has been sidelined since February 23rd following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and is not expected to return before April. Gibson, who has dealt with nagging ankle injuries all season, suffered a sprain two games later, while Butler sprained his left elbow on March 1st.
With 14 games left in the regular season, it looks like the cavalry will be arriving just in time for the Bulls to head into the playoffs as healthy as we’ve seen since 2011.
Photo: USA Today
