While the rest of his team was in Miami stunning the defending champs in Game One of their conference semifinal playoff series, Luol Deng was watching from his hospital bed. Shortly after the Bulls upset the Heat, Deng tweeted out an Instagram photo, saying, "So proud of my team man, this bed might be good luck after all. #SeeRed #Holdat." Deng was admitted to the hospital last week due to symptoms of meningitis and even received a spinal tap, knocking him out of the final two games of the series against the Nets.

Nearing the end of the long NBA season, injuries to Richard Hamilton, Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson are taking their toll on the Bulls. They're 7-11 since Feb. 1, losing five of their last eight games. They've also lost their last four road games. The Bulls, who once had the league's best road record at 13-6, are now 17-14 on the road.

Hamilton is not on the road trip and Hinrich and Gibson are day-to-day as the Bulls prepare to face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Sleep Train Arena. The signs of wear-and-tear as the Bulls try to make up for their absences is showing. Nate Robinson is shooting 25 percent on three-pointers (15-of-16) in his last 13 games after he had made 56 percent (19-of-34) in his previous seven games. Luol Deng is shooting 38 percent from the field in his last 22 games after shooting 44 percent in his first 40 games.

''We're in a little bit of a funk,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''We've got to get the energy back into it. We have to adjust faster. We have to adapt to change quicker. So when someone's out, the next guy has to step in and we have to be able to function well. That part we have to do better.''

Thibodeau could not pinpoint any particular factor in the slow starts and the opponents' hot shooting early. But it's still an issue he can't ignore.

''I am concerned about teams getting off to good starts, because in the NBA, you give a player confidence early it's very hard to slow him down,'' he said. ''We have to start better. We have to start with more energy and we have to close games better.''

Finishing strong goes hand-in-hand with starting slowly. With a depleted roster after 63 regular-season games, it appears the Bulls are using up precious energy recovering from slow starts and don't have enough gas in the tank at the end.

''Part of it is where we are in the season,'' Thibodeau said. ''You have to battle through things. I want us to be mentally tough when we face adversity. We can work through things and we have to find ways to win and we have to get the job done.''

''I think with any surgery, mentally you have to get over that hump -- that's what I'm doing now,'' Rose said prior to the Bulls' practice at UCLA's Student Activities Center. ''I'm able to play but it's just getting over that hump -- I should be fine.

''I think I can do everything [physically]. It's just me having the confidence to do it. I'm just trying to feel normal. When I'm out there and not thinking and just reacting, that's when I know I'll be ready.''

''I don't know [if he'll play this season],'' he said. ''I'm coming back when I feel normal. If that's in a couple of days, that's great. If it's not, I'm fine.''

While anxious to return, he said he feels no outside pressure to play even though he is practicing on a regular basis.

''I'm just like ya'll -- waiting for that day where I feel normal,'' he said. ''I haven't had any pressure form the organization. Nobody's pushing me to play. My teammates have been great. They're playing hard for me, still playing hard and fighting. That's a good sign. And we're winning games. I'm not worried about anything right now.''

Rose also said he there is no rift between him and the Bulls organization, as has been speculated as anxiety over his return has increased. While he's still within the eight-to-12-month recovery timetable, that Rose has been practicing with the team for 22 days without returning to the lineup is unusual even for major knee operations.

''Crazy, making up stuff,'' Rose said, laughing, when asked about the purported rift. ''Everybody assumes everything. I'm the last person that someone would have a confrontation with. I'm not trying to argue with anyone. Everything's been great. It's crazy all the stories that are going on that I know aren't true.''

On the telecast of Sunday's 90-81 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Rose expressed concern that his hamstrings were ''on fire'' according to ABC reporter Doris Burke. But Rose said Tuesday it was not a major issue.

''They're coming along,'' Rose said of his hamstrings. ''They're getting a lot stronger. Moving in the right direction. I haven't taken any steps back. That's a good thing.''

Rose said the mental hurdle is not a surprise to him and B.J. Armstrong, his agent, has prepared him for it and counseled him on how to get over it.

''I knew going in. This is a major surgery,'' Rose said. ''I knew going in, talking to a lot of people, like B.J. -- he's had like five knee surgeries. I could talk to him about anything about knees. Having him on my side helps me out a lot. I'm getting a lot of background fro him.''

The most important advice from Armstrong?

''Just take my time,'' Rose said. ''If I would rush back and something was to happen, everybody would say, 'Why did you rush back?' So I'm just taking my time and being prepared and knowing when I come back I want to be 100 percent.''

The Bulls have 19 games left in the regualar season. Rose said he has not considered a ''drop-dead'' date when he would have to decide to miss the entire season.

''I haven't thought about it,'' he said. ''I'm just taking my time. I haven't taken steps back. I'm moving forward, getting stronger every day. I did every workout possible. My workouts are getting easier. I'm moving in the right direction.''

''You never know,'' Thibodeau said Saturday after the Bulls practiced lightly at the Berto Center before leaving for Los Angeles. ''Tomorrow is a long way off.''

Derrick Rose will accompany the team on the trip and participate in shootarounds and practices as he has for the past few weeks. But his return did not appear imminent based on Thibodeau's responses Saturday.

''He's the same,'' Thibodeau said. ''Concentrate on each and every day. Put everything you have into it and we'll see where we are.''

Thibodeau said he has not decided how the process of Rose's return will be handled by the team -- whether his return ultimately will be a ''game-time decision'' or if the national interest in it might require more advance notice.

''We'll see,'' Thibodeau said. ''We'll cross that bridge when we get there. We just want him to keep working. There is no timetable.''

Despite losing a nine-point halftime lead and shooting 24 percent (10-for-42) in the second half, the Bulls rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 89-88 on Marco Belinelli's three-point shot from the corner with 5.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter before a sellout crowd of 21,842 at the United Center.

Belinelli scored 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Carlos Boozer added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Joakim Noah had nine points and 13 rebounds as the Bulls improved to 35-27 heading into a three-game West Coast swing against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors, beginning Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center.

Nate Robinson scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting (1-of-8 on three-pointers), with seven assists. And Nazr Mohammed added nine points and seven rebounds in a 20-minute stint off the bench.

''We just hung in there,'' Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''It was a choppy game. Joakim got in foul trouble. We played Nate a lot of straight minutes, so Marco got some time at the point. We played Nazr and Joakim together because Utah has a big front line.''

Belinelli's shot typically came off a scramble after a missed shot. With the Bulls trailing 88-86 with 10.9 seconds left after Joakim Noah rebounded a missed shot by the Jazz, Belinelli missed a short jumper. But Noah got the rebound and passed to Jimmy Butler near the basket. Butler quickly found an open Belinelli in the corner and Belinelli's smooth three-pointer hit nothing but net.

''I didn't do too much. I just shot the ball,'' Belinelli said. ''I was ready to shoot the ball. I think we were lucky and [Noah] got a great rebound and [Butler] did a good job to find me in the corner. I think Jimmy made the best move.''

''I just saw Marco over there standing all alone in the corner, I guess.'' Butler said. ''We're always priding ourselves on making the extra pass. Not ony was that the extra one, I think that was the right one. He was open. You find the shooters when theu're open.''

''Jimmy Butler's line does not reflect how well he played,'' Thibodeau said. ''That was a big loose-ball scramble that he came up with.''

The Bulls shot 5-of-24 from the field in the fourth quarter as the Jazz used a 10-0 run to turn a 76-71 deficit into an 81-76 lead with 7:22 to play. But Belinelli dunked off a pass from Butler, Carlos Boozer hit a 17-footer and Belinelli added a three-pointer to give the Bulls an 84-83 lead with 5:03 to play.

The Jazz regained the lead behind Al Jefferson (23 points on 10-of-16 shooting), who hit a 19-footer to give the Jazz (32-30 with six losses in their last seven games) an 88-86 lead with 51 seconds left.

After Noah missed a shot inside, Jefferson had a chance to put the hammer down, but missed a 19-footer. That gave the Bulls the chance they needed.

''It wasn't the way they drew it up,'' Jefferson said. ''He hit a tough shot. I thought we had defended him well.''

The Jazz had the last shot, but Gordon Hayward missed a 15-foot jumper and Butler got the rebound to clinch the victory.

''Every game is important. But we've let too many slip away at home this year,'' Butler said, referring to the Bulls 18-14 home record. ''It was great to get a home win and head onto the road with [momentum].''

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau seemed to come to grips with that when he addressed the tired, but still red-hot Rose return storyline prior to Friday night's game against the Utah Jazz at the United Center.

Already a snowball rolling downhill, the Rose story picked up more steam Friday when ESPNChicago.com reported that the Bulls have cleared Rose to play, but Rose will not return until he can clear the psychological hurdle of dunking confidently off his injured left leg in a game situation.

''He's been cleared to do everything that there is,'' Thibodeau said. ''But before he makes the final step, everyone ... from Jerry [Reinsdorf] on down ... has to get together and sign off. And that hasn't happened yet.''

Unfortunately, as Thibodeau has said several times, you cannot simulate the intensity of an NBA game in practice. If that's so, how will Rose ever know he'll be ready to play again?

''He'll know. He'll know,'' Thibodeau said. ''He's done a good job. His approach has been very, very good. You just want him to continue to go. We trust him. When he's ready, we'll know.''

The team's trust in Rose was a major theme of Thibodeau's comments on the subject of his star player's return Friday night.

''We knew going in this was going to be the case. So I trust Derrick implicity,'' Thibodeau said. ''When he's ready, he'll let us know and we'll go from there. He's heeded Jerry's advice from the beginning. Be patient. Be diligent. Do your work. Concentrate on the rehab. And when he's ready to go, he'll go.''

But even Thibodeau hinted that that might not be this season. Asked after Friday morning's shootaround at the Berto Center if he still expect Rose to play at some point this season, Thibodeau said, ''We're prepared either way. We'll see what happens.''

But Thibodeau clarified that response prior to Friday night's game, when he was asked if he would be surprised if Rose did not play this season.

''I don't look at it that way,'' he said. ''I look at it as I knew going in this was going to be a long process. He's handled his part great. I think our team has done a good job with their part. And that's all we can do.

''He's making progress. He's getting better. He's come a long way. He's not quite ready yet. But I'm optimistic and hopefully it'll happen.''

Rose will not play against the Jazz, coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday morning. But the more ominous news from the Berto Center is the declaration by Thibodeau that the Bulls are prepared for the possibility that Rose might not return at all this season.

Asked about an ESPNChicago.com report by Melissa Isaacson that Rose has been cleared to return, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said ''nothing has changed" regarding Rose's status.

''He's doing everything. He's participating in every part of practice,'' Thibodeau said. ''He's getting there. He's not quite there yet.''

But asked if he still expect him to play at some point this season, Thibodeau said, ''We're prepared either way. We'll see what happens.''

But he said the decision to allow Rose to play in a game ''hasn't been finalized yet. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. He's just going day-by-day. Just keep improving.''

Is it now Rose's decision to make when he returns?

''There's a lot of people that have to sign off on it,'' Thibodeau said. ''Obviously he's the most important piece. But from Jerry [Reinsdorf] on down, everyone has to sign off on it.''

The Rose issue is dominating Bulls talk outside of the Berto Center more and more as the season progresses. Though he was hardly effusive in his responses again on Friday morning Thibodeau doesn't dismiss them as irrelevant as some coaches -- or ex-coaches, as it were -- might do.

''It's part of it,'' Thibodeau said.

Bulls guard Nate Robinson knows first-hand about the interest that Bulls fans and the media have about Rose's status.

''I know there are a lot of kids that would love to see Derrick Rose come back and play,'' Robinson said. ''He's a role model. Everybody looks up to him. Including my kids. My son [who's 8 years old] asks every day. 'Dad when is Derrick coming back?' I'm like, 'I don't know, man.'

After playing the Jazz tonight, the Bulls begin a three-game West Coast trip against the Los Angeles Lakers (Sunday), the Sacramento Kings (March 13) and Golden State Warriors (March 15).

The Bulls are 34-27, in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 21 games to play in the regular season.

Thibodeau said Hinrich himself was unsure of when he suffered the injury. ''He doesn't know,'' he said. ''He said he just woke up and had soreness in one of his toes.''

Nate Robinson will start in Hinrich's place. But rookie Marquis Teague, Marco Belinelli and others could help fill Hinrich's role. The Bulls also are without point guard Derrick Rose (torn ACL), shooting guard Richard Hamilton (back spasms) and forward Taj Gibson (sprained MCL).

''Just have to be ready,'' Thibodeau said. ''We have enough. Be ready. Next guy [has to] step up and get the job done. We've been down this road a lot. Nate, Marquis, Marco -- just be ready. Go out there and get the job done.''

Hinrich had been playing well in three games since missing 10 of 11 games with a recurring elbow problem. He had 11 points and 11 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 15 points and six assists against the Philadelphia 76ers and 12 points and four assists in Saturday night's 96-85 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Hinrich has missed 15 games this season. He had played three consecutive games after missing 10 of 11 games because of an elbow injury and scored in double figures in all three games. Hinrich scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four assists in the Bulls' 96-85 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night at the United Center.

After the game he gave no indication he was injured. He did seem to try to avoid the subject of his health when asked if his recent stretch of productive games was a result of being healthier.

''This is an important stretch for us,'' Hinrich said. ''We're short-handed and every night we have to go out there with the mentality that it's going to be a battle. I think we've been playing some better basketball these last few games and we have to keep it going. I'm feeling better. Playing some bigger minutes. Just taking care of myself.''

''I'm tired,'' Noah said after scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, with five assists and four blocked shots in the Bulls' 96-85 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. ''Pretty tired.''

After back-to-back stellar games against the 76ers on Thursday and the Nets on Saturday, Noah's fatigue -- and the wear and tear on his right foot still being treated for plantar fasciitis -- bears watching heading into Sunday night's game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The issue of Noah's playing time cropped up again after he played 41 minutes in a game the Bulls led by 14 points or more throughout the second half. Even Noah seemed to be wondering why he played the final 6:25 of the fourth quarter when the Bulls were leading by 19 points.

Asked if playing 40 minutes a game is a bigger challenge mentally or physically, Noah nearly brought the minutes issue front-and-center.

''It's definitely physical ... definitely both,'' he said. ''It's not really right after the game, but the next morning is the roughest. We have a great coach, but he doesn't understand the whole resting [thing] yet, I don't think. So ... it's all good. We all want to win. So, it's good.''

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau played four starters eight minutes or more in the fourth quarter of a blowout in which the Bulls led by 14 points or more throughout -- Noah (7:49), Kirk Hinrich (10:40), Marco Belinelli (7:55) and Luol Deng (12:00).

''I saw the way the game was going,'' Thibodeau explained. ''You're jogging back. They've got a lot of three-point shooting on the floor. A 10-point lead can dissipate in a minute -- you knock down three threes, you get a foul, boom. And then we were in the penalty. We were recklessly fouling. We've got to do better.''

Thibodeau's options were more limited than normal. Hamilton, Gibson and Rose were unavailable. Lou Amundson practiced for the first time with the Bulls earlier Saturday at a Berto Center shootaround. But if you can't trust Nate Robinson and Nazr Mohammed with a 20-point lead with 6:35 to go against the Nets at home -- they were subbed by Noah and Belinelli -- what are they doing on your team?

And Thibodeau bristled when asked if it would have been advantageous to rest the starters, ''given you've got a big back-to-back tomorrow against the Pacers.''

''It's a big game because it's the next game,'' Thibodeau said curtly.

To Thibodeau, the Pacers game didn't exist until the Nets game ended. That's been his M.O. since he was hired. It is an unassailable short-term philosophy. But until the Bulls reach the NBA Finals or win it all, it will be open to legitimate skepticism. He's doing his job. And we're doing ours.

The 6-9 journeyman forward, who had been cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 8, signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls on Saturday. A Tom Thibodeau-style high-energy player, Amundson could play Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center.

Still, the only pertinent news on the Bulls beat is old news -- Rose is ''doing great'' and has ''a great frame of mind'' in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, according to Thibodeau.

''He's right where he should be,'' Thibodeau said. ''[He] just has to keep improving every day. He's got a great frame of mind. He's improving.

''He's put a lot of work in his shooting. Obviously with the time off that gave him time to do that. But in all areas -- he's worked hard on his body. So he's come along well.''

Taj Gibson (sprained MCL) will miss his third consecutive game since suffering a sprained MCL against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Though expected to miss another week, Gibson ''had a good work day'' at the Bulls' shootaround Saturday morning at the Berto Center. ''It's all encouraging,'' Thibodeau said of the Bulls' injury status.

Luol Deng, who had some bottom teeth loosened and was suffering from headaches after getting hit by the Sixers' Spencer Hawes' elbow on Thursday night, is no longer suffering headaches and will play against the Nets.

Outside of Rose's return, the Bulls are most in need of the kind of energy that a Amundson brings. As was evident with Joakim Noah's triple double against the 76ers on Thursday night, effort makes the biggest difference for the Bulls against all but the very best NBA teams.

''Energy. Effort. Experience,'' Thibodeau said when asked what Amundson brings to the team. ''He's been on some good teams. That helps.''

Amundson received an intense baptism into Thibodeau's system at Saturday's shootaround. And unlike Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli, there's little or no retro-fitting involved with introducing a player such as Amundson to the Bulls' rotation.

''He could play [against the Nets],'' Thibodeau said. ''In situations like this, that's where experience is important. Obviously you would hold back, you'd have a limited playbook in terms of what you were doing. But you can manage.''

Amundson has been a bit player with six teams in his seven-year NBA career, averaging 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 13 minutes per game in 308 games (seven starts, all with Golden State in 2010-11).

The Celtics, Knicks and Heat reportedly also showed interest in Amundson since the Timberwolves cut him. He was happy to go to a contending team. ''Being part of a good team is important to me,'' the 30-year-old Amundson said. ''Defensively I think I can do some things and help this team. But really just try to play hard and try to bring that energy every night.''

Amundson's first workout with the Bulls quickly made an impression on him.

''Just how thorough everything was today,'' he said. ''I really haven't been part of a shootaround like that, where it's been that thorough where we go over every little thing. So I can tell the attention to detail is there for sure.''

Amundson signed as a free agent with the Timberwolves last offseason after playing with the Indiana Pacers in 2011-12. But he only played in 20 of 46 games for the Timberwolves (8 minutes per game) after playing in 60 games for the Pacers.

''You have to kind of be around me enough and see me play day-in and day-out to really appreciate what I bring to the team,'' Amundson said. ''I do work hard. I think [Thibodeau] can appreciate that.''