Game #16 - Bulls vs Suns - Game Thread

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Derrick Rose wants to play against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at the United Center, even if it might be wise to let his sprained left big toe heal.

Coach Tom Thibodeau and the training staff might want to keep him on the bench, but Rose said whether he plays is his call.

“It’s up to me if I want to go out there and play,” Rose said. “It’s my decision.”

Every home game is a homecoming for the Chicago native, but playing in Memphis has extra significance because he played in college here for one season. Two years ago, Rose had to sit out a game here because of a wrist injury. He was fuming on the bench Monday while missing his second game this season.

“It’s always fun to be here, but I’m kind of mad that I didn’t get the opportunity to go out there and play,” Rose said. “There’s always next year.”

Rose said the issue isn’t only pain tolerance, but also mobility. The sprained big toe impairs his ability to push off and change direction. When asked if it would make sense to miss a game or two to let the toe heal, he was noncommittal.

“You know the way I am,” Rose said. “I’ve got that old-school mentality where I don’t want to miss a game. It hurts missing games.”

He went through his normal pregame routine before he decided his toe was too painful to play. He likely will go through the same routine Tuesday night.

“I’m very surprised,” Rose said of the flare-up. “It’s kind of irritating. You want it to go away, but it always finds its way back.”

What it means: The Bulls played one of their best games of the year on Tuesday night. The fact that they did so without Rose is a good sign. They took care of business against a bad team and did what they were supposed to do. The fact that Boozer and Noah were so dominant together on the floor has to make Tom Thibodeau feel that his team continues to move in the right direction, especially after such a poor performance on Monday afternoon against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Bulls showed, again, that they can beat bad teams without Rose. Unless the 23-year-old's turf toe injury gets significantly better in the next few days, there's no reason the Bulls should race Rose back onto the floor this weekend. If they play like they played on Tuesday night, the Bulls shouldn't have much of a problem beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Bobcats.