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Bulls' Rose: 'I just feel great'

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Slowly but surely Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose is coming into his own. 

It's been a trying year for the point guard as he attempts to work his way back from numerous injuries that jeopardized his career. After losing two seasons of his prime to multiple knee surgeries, Rose's availability at the beginning of the year was never a sure thing. 

Rose, the 2010-11 MVP, sat out for a pair of games after playing the first two of the season. He then played one before sitting out another two. After playing another pair, he missed Chicago's next four contests. 

It seemed like a never-ending saga for Rose, who was limited to 49 games over the previous two seasons. 

Rose's status was always changing and constantly in doubt, but since sitting out a fourth consecutive game with a hamstring injury, the 26-year-old has played in the Bulls' last eight contests. 

While he's averaging 13.9 points on 37.9 percent shooting, five assists and 3.4 rebounds over that stretch, he has logged just 26.2 minutes per game. More importantly, he's in a good place both mentally and physically. 

"I just feel great. My body is healthy. My mind is good. My spirit is good," Rose said after the Bulls' 105-80 blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. "Just trying to keep it going and know that when I have bad games like last game, they're going to happen. So just try to get it out of my mind and stay positive."

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is still exercising caution with his franchise player, finding time when possible to give the University of Memphis product extended rest during games. Rose, who has averaged 36.2 minutes per game over his career, has logged 30-plus minutes in only five of his 13 contests this season. 

Although Rose has struggled to find his groove as he fights the injury bug, his numbers on a per-36 minute basis aren't far off from what he has been accustomed to in the past. 

After dropping 23 points on the Nets – the second most he has scored this season – Rose made sure to remind the media that he's still capable of playing at a high level. 

"I told you: Y'all are the ones that are going to be surprised by the way that I'm playing," he said. "Just give me a little minute. I know where I'm going to be. I know how good I am. 

"I'm very confident with my craft and how good I am period."

A healthy Rose playing at an elite level like he has in the past is one of the league's best players. And his health is paramount to the success of a Bulls team with championship aspirations. 

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