Derrick Rose Confident He'll Return to Bulls This Season, Says He's Pain-Free

When Derrick Rose went down with yet another injury earlier this year, it appeared the Chicago Bulls superstar would go down with Penny Hardaway and Brandon Roy as great players who were forced out of the game early because of injury.

With the playoffs just around the corner, though, Chicago fans have a beacon of hope when it comes to a postseason run. Rose feels pretty good that he is coming back, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

Since winning the MVP in 2011, Rose has been one of the more frustrating players in the league because of a consistent string of injuries that have limited his time on the court.

Rose has only played 95 games—a little more than a single season's worth—over the last four seasons, including missing the entirety of the 2012-13 season after tearing his ACL in the first round of the playoffs the year before. That's what made the torn meniscus and subsequent surgery that much more disheartening for the Bulls.

The reports of his return, though, come as a blessing for Chicago and could be one of the key factors in deciding which team will make it to the NBA Finals. 

Having already locked up a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls getting Rose back could be a huge boost to what was considered a lost season after the injury was announced. This year, the point guard has been averaging 18.4 points and five rebounds per game and will have a serious impact on any playoff series he is involved in.

Bulls forward Taj Gibson is confident Rose will have no trouble playing at his best once he returns, per Cody Westerlund of CBS Chicago.

"But when playoff time comes, I expect him, I already know he's going to turn it up another notch," Gibson said. "Because when we play these big-time games, he's just explosive to the basket. He's just going all out."

It is still unclear as to when exactly he plans to return, but if he is back in time to find his legs in the first round, the Bulls could be a dangerous draw for the Cavaliers or Hawks in the playoffs.