[Note by your friendly BullsBlogger, 9:43 PM CDT: Derrick Rose was involved in a minor car accident Tuesday night (no Rose fault). Refused treatment at the scene. ]
Derrick Rose was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for postgame comments about the officiating of the Bulls win over the Knicks on Monday.
Immediately after making his comments, he expressed disregard for potential consequences handed down by the league.
"I've gotta be the only superstar in the league that's going through what I'm going through right now, but I can't say too much about it."
Later adding, when reporters pressed with follow-ups: "How many times did I shoot today? [And a reporter responded, "29."] And I'm the point guard.... I [couldn't] care less right now [about being fined by the NBA for his comments. I want to continue to play the way I know how to play. I came in this league a driver. Nothing has changed. I'll continue to play hard and try to win."
Luol Deng, who's missed the last two games with pain in his injured wrist, practiced on Tuesday. Tom Thibodeau was "hopeful" he would return to the starting lineup against the Heat on Wednesday, K.C. Johnson reported.
"I want to see how he feels after practicing but he went through everything and felt pretty good," Thibs said.
Rose didn't practice, but there was no reported reason to worry. Thibs added Rose was simply "nicked up a bit" with a "little wear and tear" and that "hopefully the rest will do him good".
C.J. Watson's status is still unsure, Aggrey Sam reported. He's missed the last five games with a sprained ankle and seems lie a gametime decision for Wednesday.
"He's doing a little bit more and he's not quite there, but we'll see tomorrow after the shootaround," Thibodeau said of Watson, who was doing conditioning drills after practice. "There's a possibility. He's doing running and shooting, and stuff like that."
The guy's most productive season of his career and he can't stay on the court. He's missed 17 of 44 games this season, playing on and off.
Richard Hamilton isn't playing Wednesday and there's no reason to believe his return is within a week. The separated shoulder isn't as awful as it sounds though. It's simply a scarier way to describe a sprain, which takes time. And he's old with a severe case of not-getting-younger-itis.
Even if Deng plays Wednesday, Jimmy Butler could remain in the rotation.