Tom Thibodeau

Former Celtics assistant and current Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau expressed confidence this morning that his former team will be a factor in the Eastern Conference. The 4-5 Celtics face the 10-2 Bulls tonight in what could be a critical game for Boston. The Celtics have the ninth-best record in the east. "They're fine," he said. "I think tough schedule with (Paul) Pierce being hurt ... the core of the team is intact. (Rajon) Rondo is a superstar now, so they have four star players.

One bad landing finished Derrick Rose's season. The Chicago Bulls insist it hasn't dashed their NBA title hopes. With their superstar point guard out for the rest of the season with a left knee injury, the Bulls will try to take a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers when their first-round playoff series resumes Tuesday night after realizing their worst nightmare in the opener. There was Rose writhing in pain with just over a minute left after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament.

Derrick Rose crumbled to the floor, clutching his left knee. His season is over and the Bulls' title hopes just might be finished, too. Rose will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee late in host Chicago's 103-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Saturday's playoff opener, casting a big cloud over a team eyeing a championship run. He scored 23 points and was playing more like the...

Derrick Rose crumbled to the floor, clutching his left knee. His season is over and the Bulls' title hopes just might be finished, too. Rose will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee late in host Chicago's 103-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Saturday's playoff opener, casting a big cloud over a team eyeing a championship run. He scored 23 points and was playing more like the...

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff Derrick Rose missed the Bulls' win over the Washington Wizards with a sprained big toe but he was able to participate in part of Chicago's shootaround this morning at TD Garden and coach Tom Thibodeau said he could play tonight against the Celtics. Thibodeau did not make a firm decision and Rose did not talk to reporters, but it appears the Bulls may have their MVP guard for the showdown with Boston. "We're hopeful," Thibodeau said. "He did some of the shootaround.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff Celtics assistant coach Lawrence Frank has agreed to become the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, according to a league source. Frank is the second of Doc Rivers's assistant coaches to depart for another team this week after Darren Erman left to be an assistant at Golden State. This is also the second year in a row in which Rivers has lost his top assistant coach. Former Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls last season, guiding the Bulls to the Eastern Conference...

Derrick Rose was out again for the Bulls' game against Boston on Sunday with what coach Tom Thibodeau called "stiffness" in his back and will see a specialist when the team gets back to Chicago. The reigning MVP also missed Friday's win at Charlotte. "It's not as cleared up as we would have liked right now," Thibodeau said before Sunday's game. "He's still got some stiffness. We thought it would be better to have him sit out. " Rose hurt his back earlier in the week and was limited in a win over New Orleans on Wednesday.

DORCHESTER -- Celtics president Danny Ainge could say nothing about the current NBA lockout or risk a $1 million fine but he could expound on the Celtics' coaching staff, which will be dramatically different than last year. With Lawrence Frank, Darren Erman, and big man coach Roy Rogers gone, Ainge said today that the club will not make any more additions to the staff, meaning just-promoted Mike Longabardi is likely to fill Frank's role as defensive coordinator.

Derrick Rose had 36 points and 10 assists, and the Bulls took another step toward the top seed in the Eastern Conference with their 15th win in 17 games, hanging on to beat the shorthanded Toronto Raptors, 113-106, last night in Chicago. The Bulls (56-20) lead Miami by three games and Boston by 3 ½. They also are within one of San Antonio for the NBA’s best record after squeezing by one of the league’s weakest teams. Rose came up big after scoring 27 points the previous night in a win at Detroit, and Tom Thibodeau broke Phil Jackson’s club record for...

Bulls star Derrick Rose said his aching back is improving, and he doesn't expect any lingering problems. Even so, he missed his third straight game because of lower back spasms when the Chicago Bulls hosted the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night and remains day to day. "I shouldn't have any problems in the long run," Rose said. "This back pain should be behind me in a couple of days. I should be back out there in a couple days. I'm going to take my time and be smart. " Rose didn't have a target date for his return.

LeBron James started thinking about what a playoff opener against the New York Knicks would mean a few days ago. Amare Stoudemire started talking about taking down the Miami Heat a few months ago. Here they are. One of the most hotly contested NBA postseason rivalries of a generation ago is about to be rekindled. The second-seeded Heat open defense of their Eastern Conference championship when they host Game 1 of the playoffs against the seventh-seeded Knicks Saturday afternoon.

Derrick Rose crumbled to the floor, clutching his left knee. His season is over and the Bulls' title hopes just might be finished, too. Rose will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee late in Chicago's 103-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Saturday's playoff opener, casting big cloud over a team eyeing a championship run. He scored 23 points and was playing more like the league's reigning...

The Chicago Bulls thought they were finally getting their whole team back together for the final stretch. Instead, Derrick Rose was out again. The Bulls came out on top, anyway. Richard Hamilton scored 20 points, Luol Deng added 19 and Chicago beat the New York Knicks 98-86 Tuesday night even though they were playing without their superstar point guard again. Hamilton had 18 points in the third quarter to help Chicago stay ahead after building a 12-point halftime lead.

Derrick Rose had 24 points and 13 assists, Carlos Boozer scored 27 and the Chicago Bulls pounded the Utah Jazz 111-97 on Saturday night. Kyle Korver scored a season-high 26 points, and the Bulls got back to winning after their season-high eight-game streak ended with a loss to Orlando on Thursday. They turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage going into the fourth quarter and came away with a lopsided victory on a night when both teams were short-handed. The Bulls were missing All-Star Luol Deng, who was out because of pain...

Dwight Howard had 29 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 99-94 win over the Bulls on Thursday, snapping Chicago's eight-game winning streak. Chicago twice overcame double-digit deficits and led 91-89 with 2:56 to play after Derrick Rose passed to Carlos Boozer for a jumper. Orlando responded with an 8-1 run started by Jameer Nelson's lob to Howard for a dunk. Ryan Anderson hit a 3 and a pair of free throws in the game-deciding rally. The Magic bounced back from a 100-84 loss at Charlotte, beating the league-best Bulls two nights after...

ORLANDO - It's safe to say that the NBA leaves Orlando and embarks on the second half of its abbreviated season feeling more heartened and confident about its image than just a few months ago. While this lockout season has been the source of plenty of injuries, subpar play, and the dreadful back-to-back-to-back, the league pushed its worries aside and celebrated its improving health over the weekend, culminating in the 61st All-Star Game last...