Derrick Rose has begun taking some contact in practice, but Tom Thibodeau continues to stress patience for the Chicago Bulls guard's recovery from a torn ACL.

"He's doing what we call 'predictable contact,' " Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said after Tuesday's practice. "Obviously, you're knowing what's coming.

"So he's handled that part great. He's done a little one-on-one, that's coming around, but he's still ... everyone has to be patient. The next step will be a regular practice and he hasn't done that yet. So once he does that, you know he's getting closer."

"We're not really looking over our shoulder because he's with us every day," Bulls center Joakim Noah added. "We get to see the progress. But I think it's good."