ARTICLE ID: 23121
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By K.C. Johnson Tribune reporter
2:39 p.m. CDT , April 30, 2012
The Chicago Bulls received a surprise visitor Monday: [ Derrick Rose ][1] .
Less than 48 hours after ending his season by tearing the anterior cruciate
ligament in his left knee, the league's reigning most valuable player came to
the Berto Center to begin treatment and healing of another kind. Several who
spoke to him said Rose focused more on how his teammates are doing than his
own injury.
"We want him be around," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "As much time as he needs
is fine. I don't think he'll be able to travel with us. But he'll be around.
And he wants to be around. He's anxious to get around his teammates. That's
the way Derrick is. He doesn't look back. He looks ahead. That's a great way
to be."
Thibodeau said he doesn't know if Rose will attend Tuesday's Game 2. A
specific medical plan for when Rose undergoes surgery is still being
formulated.
"He's got to wait because they're strengthening the quad and all that,"
Thibodeau said. "It will probably be clearer by the end of the week."
Thibodeau said Rose, as usual, is already flashing a competitive side.
"He's obviously disappointed with the injury," Thibodeau said. "He's totally
into the team, and he's already thinking of all the things he's going to do to
get back.
"And you just have to be patient. As I said, the guy's a fierce, fierce
competitor, and that's the way he'll approach his rehab. And when he comes
back, I expect him to pick up right where he left off. And he'll be even
better."
Teammates were happy to see Rose.
"He's handling it well," [ Kyle Korver ][2] said. "It's a tough thing. But he
seemed like he was in pretty good spirits."
[ kcjohnson@tribune.com ][3]
Twitter @kcjhoop
[1]: /topic/sports/basketball/derrick-rose-PESPT008549.topic (Derrick Rose)
[2]: /topic/sports/basketball/kyle-korver-PESPT008833.topic (Kyle Korver)
[3]: mailto:kcjohnson@tribune.com