The Bulls are trying hard not to anticipate — or even address — the imminent return of Derrick Rose.

Rose’s return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee will come with some trepidation: Will he have the same explosiveness, vertical leap and relentless aggressiveness that made him the NBA’s most valuable player at 22?

But judging from his mood and body language in the Bulls’ locker room and on the court in pregame warmups, he seems to know he’ll be the same player he was when he suffered the injury.

The Bulls seem to know it, too. And despite the troublesome spate of injuries that have sidelined Joakim Noah (foot), Boozer (hamstring) and Kirk Hinrich (elbow), the enthusiasm among the players is palpable.

via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times