Mar 21, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

As the Chicago Bulls get ready to start the playoffs tonight against the Brooklyn Nets (7 p.m. CST, ESPN) the other shoe we’ve been waiting for all year has finally dropped — sort of. Tom Thibodeau said today that Derrick Rose is “most likely out” for the playoffs, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

Now, while there is still a theoretical chance that Rose could still return, this is hardly surprising. Rose has been hinting that he wouldn’t play this year since February and while they’ve continually refused to shut him down, each passing day made it more and more likely that he wouldn’t return at all. Is it disappointing? Of course. But Derrick has to do what’s best for Derrick, and if he thinks that’s sitting out, there’s not much we can — or should, really — do about it.

On the bright side, the Bulls’ home opener next year is going to sell out in a bout .00000000000000002 seconds and that building is going to be loud on a scale rarely seen outside of a jet engine testing facility. But until then, we’ve got what we’ve got. The Bulls are both flawed and hurt. But anything can happen in the playoffs, so we’ll see how it goes.

Ah, we’re just screwing with you. The real story here is Derrick Rose.

Feb 11, 2013; Deerfield, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose shoots a basketball behind his back as he rehabs from an ALC injury at the Berto Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Rose spoke to the Chicago media again today, where he dropped a few hints as to when he might be back this season. And by ‘dropped a few hints,’ I mean we still have no freaking clue when or if he’ll be back.

Rose talked about his rehab, his confidence that he’ll be just as good if not better upon his eventual return, and how he has to balance his future against the immediate present.

From K.C. Johnson’s piece for the Chicago Tribune:

Sounding very much like a player who may sit all season, Rose talked encouragingly about what his game will look like whenever he returns. As for when that is?

“It can be tomorrow where I feel I can play next game,” he said. “Nobody knows but God.”

For those excited that Rose may say Friday that he’s ready to play Saturday, listen to more of Rose’s comments.

“Bad,” Rose said, when asked how much he wants to play. “But knowing that my health is the biggest key. I’m only 24 years old. I got the whole future in front of me. I’m just trying to take my time.

“When I got my teammates behind me and they see how hard I’m pushing in practice and I’m seeing how hard they’re fighting for me on the court, it makes me want to go harder. It makes me want to be out there more too. But you have to look at the big picture.”

So, the good news is things are going fine, more or less. Nothing Rose has said would lead us to believe otherwise. But, as per usual, Rose doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the specifics of his return. Some fans may think he’s being overly cautious and he needs to return right this second, but those people are stupid. Derrick Rose will return when Derrick Rose is ready. Until then, sit down, shut up and let him do his thing.