Derrick Rose (knee) practiced Thursday and intends to take the floor Friday for Team USA against Puerto Rico, ESPN reports. After drills, he said, "I'm feeling good. I'm gonna give it a go tomorrow and see how it goes...just trying to stay positive til (s

Rose (knee) practiced Thursday and intends to take the floor Friday for Team USA against Puerto Rico, ESPN reports. After drills, he said, "I'm feeling good. I'm gonna give it a go tomorrow and see how it goes...just trying to stay positive til (sic) then."

Analysis:

Rose has been sidelined since Team USA's last tilt Saturday versus Brazil, but his ability to practice Thursday bodes well for active status Friday. Although injuries to both knees have contained him to 10 games over the past two seasons, assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has merely termed the guard's ailment as "soreness." Rose has two opportunities to fit in a competitive game before Team USA opens play at the FIBA World Cup on Aug. 30, but the final roster is expected to boast incredible guard depth, thereby removing the need for him to show up on a daily basis in Spain.