Bulls' Rose, Gibson, Noah All A Go For Game 1
(CBS) The Bulls' season-long goal was to make it to the postseason healthy and be in a position to make a run at an NBA title.
While they're not unharmed currently, it will be nearly all hands on deck for Chicago when it hosts Milwaukee in a playoff opener Saturday at 6 p.m.
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson all practiced Friday and will play in Game 1, coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters Friday. This news comes after each faced health hurdles in the regular-season finale.
Rose experienced left knee soreness Wednesday against the Hawks and played just 10 minutes, sitting near the end of the bench for the entire second half. Noah sat out because of what the team termed left hamstring tendinitis, though the more serious concern may be the left knee that's bothered him all season long. Noah sat the final two games of the regular season.
Rose and Noah will play similar minutes to what they've had recently, the Tribune's K.C. Johnson reported. For Rose, his most playing time in his latest return from right knee surgery has been 28 minutes. Noah's been operation on a minutes restriction of 32.
Gibson left in the third quarter Wednesday with a left shoulder strain, admitting the pain was so bad he couldn't feel his left hand. Nonetheless, he'll play Saturday, too.
The only remaining question mark for Chicago is whether reserve guard Kirk Hinrich will play. He missed the final two games of the regular season with a hyperextended left knee. The Bulls listed Hinrich as questionable for Saturday.