Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg sees no reason to keep prized guard Derrick Rose in cold storage and such was justified all the more when the former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) logged in minutes in the Bulls' preseason finale against the Dallas Mavericks.
Rose played a total of 10 minutes, but that seemed to be enough for Hoiberg to realize how important Rose is to the team.
He singles out how Rose is able to push the ball up court and make the offense evolve, a crucial part of his new system to be a success. However, it wouldn't be surprising if he gently breaks-in Rose into the regular season, seeing that the guard still has some swelling on his left eye after undergoing surgery for a fractured left orbital.
Aside from that, his 20/20 vision is also another cause for concern. Rose complained about double-vision days earlier, but it seems such has improved.
Rose, who is wearing a clear mask for added protection, showed he is fired up and ready to play, much of which can be seen in the video highlights below.
It remains to be seen if Rose will start for the Bulls this coming Wednesday when the Bulls host the Cavaliers. Regardless, his minutes are expected to be managed as the team looks to avoid worsening the injury.
Right now, Hoiberg says that the only thing that could prevent Rose from playing on opening day is an unforeseen setback. Rose is aching to play in the season-opener, something he has not been able to do the past years due to nagging knee injuries.
With Rose in tow, the Bulls will be an interesting team to watch this season. With a new head coach and a new system in play, it remains to be seen if such will be successful.
So far however, most of the players — including D-Rose — seem pretty comfortable with Fred Hoiberg's system.
