Derrick Rose thinks he will play against Orlando, but isn’t worried about his role

INDEPENDENCE, OHIO– After nearly two and a half months, Derrick Rose says he looks like he’s “a go” for Thursday night’s game against the Orlando Magic.

Both Rose and Iman Shumpert participated in practice on Wednesday. Rose spoke with media and said that as long as everything feels fine Thursday morning, he plans on playing.

Rose went down with an ankle sprain in the second game of the year on Oct. 20. He returned to action nine days later and played in the next five games before he was shut down again as the injury continued to nag him. He has not played since Nov. 7.

Days before Thanksgiving, frustrations mounted and Rose left the team and even contemplated retirement. Since he returned, however, Rose has worked on his rehab and on getting his mind right.

Now, with Isaiah Thomas as the starting point guard and Dwyane Wade as the backup, Rose says he isn’t concerned about his role.

“Like I said man, I just want to hoop,” he said. “It’s not about, like I said, stats or anything like that. I just want to be on the floor and show people what I still have in the tank and help this team anyway I can.”

Head coach Tyronn Lue continued to stay mum on what exactly Rose and Shumpert’s roles could be.

“When they come back we’ll figure it out,” he said.

But during the team’s recent five-game road trip, Lue suggested that Rose could essentially be used to give Wade some extra breathers or even extra nights off during the regular season. Considering the Cavs have had the last two days off and Wade shouldn’t need a rest day, it will be interesting to see how, and if, he is used in Thursday night’s game.

But in Rose’s mind, one area he can be helpful in is pushing the pace.

“Tomorrow I just gotta go out there and play my game,” he said. “I think pace can be one of the ways, where pushing the ball and facilitating and getting guys in the open court.”

Rose averaged 14.3 points and 1.7 assists in his first seven games this season. Through his absence the Cavs have experienced plenty of highs, (like winning 18 out of 19 games and a 13-game win streak in the process) and some lows, including their current rough patch that includes nine losses in their last 12 games.

“It’s hard, but at the same time it’s the same team,” Rose said. “I mean, what’d we lose at the beginning of the season?… Exactly, 5-7, then we won 13 straight. You’re going to have ups and downs in a season, it’s all about how you handle your losses and how you communicate.”