The Chicago Bulls hold a three lead over the Miami Heat for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but with two of the eight remaining regular season games being matchups against Miami, Chicago's No. 1 seed in the playoffs is anything but assured. The Bulls still need wins if they want homecourt in a potential Eastern Conference finals rematch, and for that to happen, they'll likely need star point guard Derrick Rose on the court.
Rose missed 12 straight games with a groin injury before returning on Eastern Sunday against the New York Knicks in a loss at Madison Square Garden. Rose suffered an ankle injury during the defeated that kept him out of Tuesday night's rematch with New York at the United Center. With a game against the Heat looming Thursday night, everyone wants to know if the Bulls will have Rose in tow.
Here's what we know right now: the Bulls are expecting Rose to play, according to the Trib's K.C. Johnson.
This time, the surprise would be if DRose doesn't play. Ankle has improved 3 straight days. #Bulls expect him in vs. Heat.
— K.C Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 11, 2012
The Bulls defeated the Heat without Rose on March 14 behind 24 points from John Lucas III. Chicago also plays Miami on April 19.
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