Bulls say Rose's spirits are high, optimistic he can return this season

The Chicago Bulls looked understandably deflated in their 98-86 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, their first game since learning that point guard Derrick Rose will be out indefinitely after suffering his second right meniscus tear in three years. 

The sense right now appears to be that this tear isn't as significant as the one Rose had in November of 2013, and that the surgery he'll undergo - to remove a small cartilage tear - will necessitate a shorter rehabilitation period.

Despite the somber mood in the Bulls' locker room and the uninspired performance Wednesday, Rose's teammates are trying to remain optimistic, as Rose apparently is. They still believe he can return this season. 

All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler said he spoke to Rose on Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. "He's high-spirited," Butler said, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. "I think we're all optimistic about it. We want him back and I'm sure he's going to try and get back as soon as possible."

"He has great mental toughness," head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He has gotten past a lot of hurdles. This is another one. He'll get past this one too. ...

"We have to have patience. We just have to take it day by day."

One thing that's become abundantly clear in the wake of the dispiriting news about Rose's knee is how much he means to his team, not necessarily just as a player (though there's that) but as a person. 

"It hurts to see anyone go down, especially someone who is as good a person as Derrick is and the history he has had with injuries," said backup point guard Kirk Hinrich. "I'm still shocked. ...

"I can't imagine what he has gone through these last three years. Just when it seems like he was hitting his stride, playing great, the team felt like he had put (his earlier struggles) behind him, for this to happen is devastating."

"Just really sad," said center Joakim Noah, Rose's longest-tenured teammate. "Angry, sad - he doesn't deserve it. It's just really disappointing ... I feel bad for him, but I know he's a tough guy and he's going to bounce back."

Said Thibodeau in summation: "The thing that I think makes our team special is how they care about each other. We'll have a spirit about us that we're going to have to fight through things, but overall our concern is with Derrick."