Rose and Gibson out against Pistons
by Sam Smith
Posted on Apr 2
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The games keep coming, big as they are for the Bulls, as well as the injuries. Both Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, after frustrating efforts this week to play through injuries, were unable to play Saturday as the Bulls faced the Detroit Pistons in the contest for the last Eastern Conference playoff position.
Gibson was uncertain right up until 30 minutes before the game, but then sat out with a fractured rib. Rose tried to get movement in his left arm from a hyperextension and could not. So he was unable to play, as well.
“Still very tender,” said Rose, who has been unable to straighten his left arm after a fall against Atlanta and aggravating it against Indiana. Rose played the first half Thursday against Houston and then was pulled by coach Fred Hoiberg.
“Going to get treatment all day (Sunday),” Rose said. “I’ll see how that goes and tomorrow goes (regarding playing Sunday in Milwaukee). It was a play against Atlanta, fell, hit my elbow, played through it and tried to play through it in Indiana and kind of reaggravated it and it flared up.
“(I’ve) just been trying to play consistent games,” said Rose, who had played 63 games this season, more than his last three years combined. “Hurt, but just got to be smart. I’m out there playing with one hand. I played the whole Indiana game with one hand and then the Houston game. Just thank God Pat (Beverley) didn’t try to pressure me the entire game or something; that was good. I think he knew, I think he eased back a little bit.
“I’m too blessed (to become depressed),” Rose said. “(I’ve) played numerous games this year, still got a chance to make the playoffs. I can’t dribble the ball (now) or every time I get hit the vibration of getting hit aggravates the swelling. The reality is I have to deal with an injury. I fell on the floor; you’re going to have injuries. Just have to try to get through that and get back on the floor.
“My appreciation of the game has grown ever since I had my injuries,” said Rose. “So not being out and not being able to perform the way I want to is tough.”
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