Rose wants to play, but resigned to waiting

Derrick Rose says he’s getting better every day and is hoping to play Tuesday when the Bulls visit his college home for a game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Speaking after practice Monday at the Berto Center, he almost seemed resigned to sitting out the next two games to help his sprained left wrist heal.

“Gar (general manager Gar Forman) was telling me don’t rush it,” Rose said. “If anything, wait for this weekend or this Friday’s game. I want to play definitely because it’s Memphis. But if they tell me to wait, I’ll wait.”

Even though he shoots with his right hand, Rose prefers to dribble with his left, especially when attacking the basket, which would make things difficult.

“I use my left hand the majority of the game, so that would be difficult to like, make myself an all right hand player, even though I’m right handed,” he said. “The strength isn’t there anymore (in the left wrist). If I do play, I’ll drive with my right hand a lot.”

MAKESHIFT LINEUP FOR MEMPHIS
If Derrick Rose doesn’t play Tuesday, the Bulls will be missing four starters. Luol Deng (right calf sprain) hasn’t been ruled out, but isn’t likely to play. Joakim Noah (sore left foot) is out and guard Kirk Hinrich will serve a one-game suspension for bumping official Bennie Adams in Miami on Friday.

The Bulls may use a starting backcourt of Jannero Pargo and Flip Murray, but coach Vinny Del Negro didn’t want to commit to anything.

“We still have to get from here to Memphis,” Del Negro joked. “So I’m going to see what I have tomorrow, then we’re going to shootaround and probably have a starting lineup. Then by game time, that could change. It could be raining in Memphis, someone could slip. You just never know. Maybe 30 seconds before tipoff, I’ll let you know the starting lineup; give you a heads up.”