According to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Derrick Rose told reporters after Friday’s practice, “I’m just going to play the same way that I normally do”. “There’s no point in holding back. I think that we go as I go, and me being aggressive gets people open and that’s how I’m going to play.
The head coach of the Chicago Bulls Tom Thibodeau also stated According toNBA.com “He’s prepared himself for this,”. “Nobody is going to take it easy on Derrick because he’s coming back. I don’t know how long he’ll be able to play. … If he doesn’t play the way he normally does, now you can get into trouble. I want him to go out there and if he needs to come out, we’ll get him out.”
That’s exactly how the former MVP came back to play, like he never left! He proved to have the same speed and drive, attacking the basket when needed, and getting his teammates involved with his high energy and high impact style of play. He proved to do good with his time recovering from his torn ACL injury, showing more strength and power finishing at the rim with full contact. He even gave us a dunk in the 3rd quarter proving that he still has the same moves.
Rose, finished the game with 13 points, 5/12 FG and 3 assists in only 20 minutes of playing time to close out his much anticipated return back to the NBA. His Bulls teammates pitched in with T. Gibson adding 18 pts. & 12 rbs. , L. Deng with 15pts. & 8 rbs. , and J. Butler with 11 pts. & 6 rbs. The Pacers' P. George and D. West both tied with 14 pts. a piece but that coudn't stop the Bulls from winning their first preseason game.
Noticeably missing out of action was the teams' all-star center Joakim Noah, who did not play in this preseason game due to a groin injury and is expected to miss a few preseason games according to According toBleacherReport.com.
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