Rose, who had surgery to repair a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on May 12, has been videotaped dunking off each foot, but more casually than he would during a game. A source said that although he has been practicing and scrimmaging hard, he told the Bulls that until he feels “in his mind” he can confidently dunk off his left foot in a game situation, he is not 100 percent mentally ready to return to competition.

The team is not pressuring Rose, the source said, but the Bulls are confident he will return this season and are still hoping for a mid-March return, which would mark 10 months after his surgery. The Bulls play at Golden State on March 15.

The source said the team has been assured by Rose’s doctor that there is no more chance of the former MVP getting injured upon his return than anyone else and that the doctor told the Bulls that physically “he can play now.” Rose is now dealing with the psychological side of trusting his body.

Rose, 24, raised the possibility that he wouldn’t return at all this season during an interview on Feb. 13 after the Bulls lost to the Celtics in Boston, which was the last time Rose spoke publicly.

“I’m feeling good, but like I said, if it’s where it’s taking me a long time and I’m still not feeling right, I don’t mind missing this year,” he said. “I would love to [return]. I would love to. That’s why I approached my rehab and my workout so hard. I’m trying to get back on the court as quickly as possible, but if I have anything lingering on, it’s no point.”

Since that interview, Rose has taken part in 5-on-5 scrimmages, beginning on Feb. 18.

He began sitting on the bench with the team on March 3.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said after practice Friday that there are no new developments with Rose, and that the clearance for Rose to play in a game “hasn’t been finalized yet.”

“He’s doing everything there is to do in practice, so he’s been cleared from that standpoint,” Thibodeau said.

When asked whether Rose would be able to play in a game if he says he is able to, Thibodeau said: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. We’re just going day by day. Just keep improving.”

“Definitely getting stronger and stronger every day,” guard Nate Robinson said. “Hopefully, he’s right on time and right on schedule. He’ll be back when he’s ready.”

Thibodeau said the decision for Rose to play will be made by several people.

“There’s a lot of people that got to sign [off],” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, he’s the most important piece. But from Jerry [Reinsdorf, Bulls owner] on down, everyone has to sign off on it.”

As far as what Rose is doing in practice, Thibodeau said: “He’s doing everything. He’s participating in every part of practice.”

Thibodeau also said the Bulls are prepared to move on with or without Rose. “We’ll see what happens,” he said.

The perception that Rose wouldn’t return this season was enhanced on Feb. 22, when his brother Reggie Rose told ESPNChicago.com that the Bulls’ lack of activity before the trade deadline would be a “big factor” in whether his brother would return.

“It’s frustrating to see my brother play his heart and soul out for the team and them not put anything around him,” Reggie Rose said at the time.

Derrick Rose assured the Bulls, the source said, that he did not share his brother’s sentiment and issued the following statement: “I have always felt that the Bulls organization’s goals have been the same as mine and that is to bring another championship to this city.”

Bulls officials from Thibodeau to general manager Gar Forman, vice president John Paxson and all the way up to Reinsdorf have said they won’t rush Rose back. Reinsdorf told ESPN Chicago in August 2012 that he didn’t want to make the same mistake he made with Michael Jordan after Jordan broke a bone in his foot during his second season in 1985. Jordan returned and didn’t suffer another injury, but Reinsdorf has said that it was a risk he didn’t want to take with Rose.

The Bulls have told Rose that while they will support whatever decision he makes, they would prefer he return this season, the source said, “and get it under his belt, rather than wonder all summer if he could.”

Rose is considered the franchise cornerstone and signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $94 million in December 2011.

“There are a lot of kids out there 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 asks every day, ‘Dad, when’s Derrick coming back?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ It’s funny. Derrick’s sitting right next to me on the flight, so when I Skype my son, I take a little peek. He’s like, ‘There he is, let me talk to him.’ I’m like, ‘You can’t talk to him, just let him be.’ But (Rose) is working extremely hard, and that’s one thing I definitely respect about him. He’s very humble and he works extremely hard in the game that he loves.”

The Bulls enter action Friday in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

The post Source: Derrick Rose cleared to play appeared first on IdealCapper.

The Argentina international sustained the injury just seven minutes into the 2-0 victory at the San Siro and is now set for a long spell on the sidelines.

An Inter statement read: “Diego Milito underwent diagnostic tests at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia this evening, after being forced off the pitch with an injury in the seventh minute of the match against Cluj.

“The tests revealed that the striker has damaged his anterior cruciate ligament and fibula collateral ligament.”

It is another blow for Milito, who returned from a month-long absence in Sunday’s Serie A win over Chievo.

Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni admitted the injury was the major downside of a win achieved thanks to two goals from Milito’s replacement, Rodrigo Palacio.

“Unfortunately it takes some of the shine off tonight’s win, which was otherwise very positive,” Stramaccioni told Mediaset.

“It’s his cruciate ligament, a new type of injury for Diego, nothing to do with the problems he’s had before. We’re gutted for Diego as a person first and foremost, and then of course for what he represents as a player.

“We need to see when he’ll have the operation. We have to wait for more information.”

Milito’s absence is a major blow to fourth-placed Inter’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Stramaccioni added: “Milito is a huge loss for us because he’s our only out-and-out centre forward.

“We’d planned for him and Palacio to play part of the game each tonight to keep them both fresh, but when you get injured seven minutes into the match it’s just sheer bad luck.”

The post Inter’s Milito could miss season appeared first on IdealCapper.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard was the captain for the match in San Pedro Sula as the Americans opened the final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Chandler took over on the right from Steve Cherundolo, sidelined by a knee injury.

Chandler, a 22-year-old with an American father and German mother, had been eligible to play for both nations. He made nine previous appearances for the Americans, all in exhibitions, and by appearing in a competitive match for the U.S. he became ineligible to play for any other country under FIFA rules.

Gonzalez, a 6-foot-4 defender for the Los Angeles Galaxy, was the only holdover in the starting lineup from last week’s 0-0 tie against Canada in an exhibition at Houston. That marked his return to the national team following a two-year absence partly caused by a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. He was paired with Cameron in the center of the backline, and Fabian Johnson was on the left.

Danny Williams, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley and Eddie Johnson were in a four-man midfield, and Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore were at forward.

Honduras’ lineup had Noel Valladares in goal; Arnold Peralta, Victor Bernandez, Maynor Figueroa and Juan Garcia on defense; Oscar Boniek Garcia, Roger Espinoza, Luis Garrido and Mario Martinez in midfield; and Jerry Bengston and Carlo Costly at forward.

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Atlanta At Charlotte
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta, Charlotte)
Prediction: Hawks 95, Bobcats 91.

Oddsmakers currently have the Hawks listed as 6-point favorites versus the Bobcats, while the game’s total is sitting at 194½.

Atlanta is adjusting to life without guard Lou Williams, who was lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last week. Guard Devin Harris is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, and reserves Anthony Morrow (hip) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) also are questionable, while backup center Zaza Pachulia (Achilles) is not expected to make the trip. The Hawks still have their two biggest stars in Josh Smith (16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Al Horford (15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds).

The Hawks were a 104-96 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Timberwolves. They earned a push of the 8-point spread as favorites, while the total score (200) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 23-18 SU, 16-23-2 ATS
is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 8 of last 9 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games on the road
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 4-6

Unlike the Hawks, the Bobcats can say they’re relatively healthy – forward Byron Mullens (11.6 points, 7.8 rebounds) is the only player expected to miss the game – but the good news stops there. Charlotte has been one of the least efficient teams at both ends of the floor, and two of the team’s top three scorers – Ramon Sessions (14.3 points) and Ben Gordon (13 points) – are reserves. Kemba Walker leads the way with 17.9 points and 5.7 assists per game.

The Bobcats were a 100-94 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Rockets. They covered the 7-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (194) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 10-31 SU, 16-25 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 8 of last 9 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games
is 8-16 ATS in its last 24 games

When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Minnesota are 3-7
After playing Houston are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7

The post Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Bobcats Free Betting Pick & NBA Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

“We expect a full recovery and it is everybody’s hope and belief that due to Robert’s high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season,” Andrews said in the statement.

“The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career,” he said.

Griffin’s torn ACL was diagnosed late Tuesday as a complete tear of the patella graft that was used to repair his torn ACL suffered at Baylor in 2009. A team source told ESPN Tuesday that Andrews was likely to use a patella graft from Griffin’s left knee to repair the most recent tear.

Griffin’s recovery is projected at six to eight months, barring any setbacks, sources said. The rehabilitation plan will focus primarily on strengthening Griffin’s quadriceps to help protect and help stabilize the knee, according to sources. The reconstruction of the LCL is considered a complication, but sources said Andrews informed the Redskins it should rehab well during the same six-to-eight-month time frame as the ACL injury.

Under this projected time frame of surgery, recovery and rehab, Griffin should be able to participate at some level during training camp in August and be ready to open the season in September, according to the sources.

Griffin thanked his fans for their support in a tweet Wednesday morning.

“Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season,” he wrote.

The NFL Network reported that, after looking at the game file, coach Mike Shanahan believes Griffin suffered his knee injury on the play before the errant snap where his knee gave out as he tried to plant his leg. On that penultimate play, Griffin was sacked by Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin.

The first major injury to the knee came in 2009, when Griffin tore the ACL in the third game of the season while playing for Baylor. Griffin missed the rest of the year but returned in 2010 and won the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

Griffin sprained the LCL last month when he was hit by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the end of a 13-yard scramble. Griffin missed one game and returned to play three more while wearing a bulky knee brace, his mobility clearly hindered.

According to Stats & Information, Griffin led the league in scrambles (43) and scramble yards (411) before his Week 14 injury against the Ravens. However, after the injury, Griffin scrambled only once in his last three games (for 1 yard), including Sunday’s playoff loss.

On Sunday, Griffin hurt the knee again as he fell awkwardly while throwing a pass in the first quarter against the Seahawks. He remained in the game, with Shanahan saying he trusted Griffin’s word that all was OK.

Griffin finally departed in the fourth quarter, after the knee buckled while he was trying to field a bad shotgun snap.

The No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, Griffin was one of several rookie quarterbacks to make an instant impact on the NFL this season. He set the league record for best season passer rating by a rookie quarterback and led the Redskins to their first NFC East title in 13 years.

But he also had to leave three games early due to injuries — two because of his knee and one because of a concussion — and missed a fourth altogether because of the knee.

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