April 12--The Bulls improved to 48-32 with their home victory over the 76ers. Here are three observations:
Depleted 76ers' roster or not, Derrick Rose played well.
Forget how shorthanded the 76ers were or how they didn't have a point guard to defend Rose. What matters beyond the statistics---were were expectedly efficient against such a poor team---is how Rose is faring physically.
That an upbeat Rose met reporters postgame after lifting weights should answer that, if his knifing drive with 1 minute left to turn a one-possession game into a five-point lead didn't already.
"I'm getting there," Rose said. "It's still going to take time. I'm just happy I got the teammates I have. When a guy miss so many games and comes back and tries to fight my way through, they're sticking with me. I'm grateful and excited and just filled with joy that I'm back playing."
Tom Thibodeau closed with Taj Gibson.
Gibson played the final 4 minutes, 44 seconds, replacing Nikola Mirotic. This is not a look the Bulls' coach has used lately. Mirotic has closed most games. It's a look that makes sense for the more physical and defensive-oriented playoffs, although Thibodeau said afterward that he's still considering his options.
"With Niko developing the way he has, it allows us to have Niko, Taj, Jo (Noah) and Pau (Gasol) on the floor together," Thibodeau said. "When you're subbing and heading down the stretch, now you can go more by what the game needs. Who has a good game going? Who has a good matchup going? They all get a good chunk of it. The last three minutes is usually offense-defense and what you need the most."
Gibson scored 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting with five rebounds.
Give Tony Snell credit for staying ready.
Out of the rotation completely as recently as two games ago, Snell started the Heat game when Jimmy Butler sat with a sore left calf and defended Dwyane Wade well. He then played just one minutes through the first three quarters against the 76ers but scored 11 fourth-quarter points, including three 3-pointers, when Kirk Hinrich couldn't go with an aggravation of his hyperextended left knee.
"Tony was terrific," Thibodeau said. "He played very well defensively and hit those shots. That was a big plus for us."
