Derrick Rose questionable Thursday due to illness
Relax, Chicago Bulls fans. It's not an injury.
Still, Derrick Rose is listed as questionable for Thursday night's nationally televised showdown with the New York Knicks. Rose missed the team's shootaround due to an illness.
If Rose can't go Thursday night, Kirk Hinrich would stand to start, as he's done on nine occasions this year. There's really very little reason for Rose to push it if he's under the weather, as the 5-22 Knicks could be without a handful of players, including Carmelo Anthony.
Rose has appeared in 16 games, averaging 16.8 points and 5.1 assists in 27.4 minutes and, for the most part, looks like the Rose of old. After finding himself in and out of the lineup with ankle and hamstring issues earlier in the year, he's played in 11 consecutive games. His shooting percentages - 42.1 percent from the floor and 28.1 percent from long range - still aren't great, but his play has otherwise been encouraging.
The Bulls are 6.4 points per 100 possessions better with Rose, but they should have enough firepower for the Knicks without him.