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The Chicago Bulls defeated the Miami Heat 107-87 on Thursday at the United Center. That qualifies as news, although not to the extent of what Bulls guard Derrick Rose said during his first media gathering since he suffered a torn meniscus Nov. 22 during the team’s circus road trip and underwent season-ending surgery.
It was a big night for the Bulls and for Luvabull Ariana.
The news is Rose did not say he was out for the season. Nor did he say he was in for the season. What he said merely confuses a situation that needed no further confusion.
He said: “If I’m healthy and the situation is right, I’m going to be back playing. If I’m healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I’ll be out there playing. But if it’s something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there’s no need.”
So he might be back. And he might not. If you are a betting person, put your money on “not.”
The team has said Rose is out for the season.
“To me, he’s basically — he’s out for the season,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We want him to be completely healthy before he moves forward. … We can’t worry about whether he may come back or not. Right now, it’s been determined that he’s out for the season, so that’s the way we’re going to approach it.”
“I believe that I’m a special player,” Rose said. “I think people love the way that I just play. I don’t try to impress anyone while I’m playing or anything. It’s just the way that I play. I’ve just got a feel for the game, and I know my story is far from done.’
The Heat was far from the team that has won two consecutive NBA titles. It played without Dwyane Wade, who stayed behind at the team’s hotel because of illness, and without Chris Andersen (personal reasons).
Disinterested might be one way to describe the Heat (14-5). In playing defense. In the game overall. Take your pick.
Carlos Boozer led th Bulls with 27 points, Luol Deng had 20 and Taj Gibson 19. Center Joakim Noah had 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. LeBron James had 21 points for Miami. He was the only starter to play in the fourth quarter. He played 1:57 and went 0-for-from the field.
As far as insignificant victories go, this was good one for the Bulls. Does victory revitalize postseason aspirations? Only if you are delusional.
The contest appeared to mean more to the Bulls than to the Heat. If you’re looking who might have had the best night, try one of the Luvabulls dancers and her boyfriend. During a timeout, Shane propoed to Luvabull Ariana. She said “yes.”
Some highlight from the evening that began with a moment of silence for anti-apartheid crusader Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95:
Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the tireless trolling by the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com):
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