But (Derrick) Rose’s recovery could take from 8-12 months, according to his doctor, which means he could miss all of next season. Some believe the Bulls could become a lottery team if Rose misses the entire season.

“I like our chances (of winning),” (Richard) Hamilton said. “As players we hope and pray that he’s back, because he makes everybody’s job that much easier. But I feel as though if he doesn’t, it will be our job to hold things down until he does come back.

“He’ll bounce back real quick.”

And when he does come back, will Rose be the same slashing point guard who battled an assortment of injuries at the young age of 23? Or will he change his game?

“I think he’ll start to change when he gets in his 30s, when he feels as though he doesn’t want to take as many hits,” Hamilton said. “Because even for myself when I came in the league (in 1999 with the Washington Wizards) I had Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland as veterans to me, and they used to always tell me, ‘Hey Rip, you can’t fall on the floor every time you come down the court. That’s going to catch up.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m young,’ I didn’t care. I take a hit, I get back up.

via Roman Modrowski of ESPN Chicago