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Derrick Rose 'close' to returning

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose works out before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center in Chicago on March 2, 2013. Rose is recovering from knee surgery and has not played this season. UPI/Brian Kersey
1 of 4 | Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose works out before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center in Chicago on March 2, 2013. Rose is recovering from knee surgery and has not played this season. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

CHICAGO, April 5 (UPI) -- Chicago Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau said point guard Derrick Rose, recovering from knee surgery, is doing well in practice and getting close to playing in games.

Rose, who underwent surgery for an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, can do "everything" in practices, Thibodeau said, but won't return to regular-season games until he feels ready, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

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"Yeah, he's close, but he's not going to come back until he's ready, "the coach said.

"He feels a lot better but he's still not there ... his skillset is power, speed, stop, go, change of direction, so he has to make sure that he's completely comfortable with that. He's close, but he's not quite there yet."

Thibodeau said Rose wants to get back to the point where he plays the game on instinct.

"To have the ability to do it every day,'' Thibodeau said.

"Like right now, we're not doing a lot of scrimmaging because of where we are so it's hard to gauge. But when we did scrimmage I thought he looked very good. But the most important thing is him being comfortable, so we've got to let him work through it."

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