"That's been our goal all along, to try to continue to make steps in the right direction, to try to get this team healthy and in a good rhythm going into the postseason," Bulls general manager Gar Forman said. "That's the encouraging thing about the news today: We still have the opportunity to do that.

"Again, a lot will depend on this rehab process, exactly when Derrick is back on the floor. But we're optimistic it will be before this season is over," Forman said. "So the hope will be he'll have time to get games under his belt, we can get the rest of the team in a healthy place and we can be in a rhythm and have good health going into the postseason.

"If we do that, obviously we like this team and have a lot of confidence in this team, and we think this team will be able to compete at a high level."

The Bulls (36-22) were in fourth place in the Eastern Conference entering Friday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a half-game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They are one of the NBA's best defensive teams, and shooting guard Jimmy Butler has emerged as a surprising offensive force. To make a deep run in the playoffs, however, the Bulls are going to need Rose. Whether it's scoring or passing, he dictates the tempo of Chicago's offense, and opponents have to account for him every second he's on the floor.

Rose's critical value was evident the past three seasons. Without their star-crossed guard, Chicago was eliminated in either the first or second rounds of the playoffs. They made the Eastern Conference finals in 2011, the last time Rose was healthy for the postseason.

Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during the 2012 playoffs, then was out for all but 10 games last season after tearing the same right medial meniscus.

"That's the hope, that he can get back soon enough that he can get some regular-season games under his belt and get his rhythm going into the postseason," Forman said.

Of course, Chicago has seen projected dates for Rose's return from his previous injuries come and go. But the circumstances are much different this time around, Forman said.

The tear wasn't nearly as severe as the one in fall 2013, Forman said, describing it as a "flap" that was shaved off. It's a "fairly common" injury among NBA players — Bulls rookie Doug McDermott missed a little over a month after having a similar procedure in December — and Forman said most return without any falloff in their play.

And unlike Rose's return from previous surgeries, the shorter layoff should mean he'll be able to regain his rhythm much more quickly — no small thing with the playoffs looming.

Rose and the Bulls were cautious with his return early this season, with Rose saying repeatedly it was going to take time to knock the rust off. He played in only five of Chicago's first 13 games, and he was limited to 32 minutes or less in 19 of his first 20 games.

But he had played in 19 consecutive games before the latest injury, playing 30 minutes or more in all but four of them. (And he played 29 minutes and 56 seconds in one of those.) During that stretch, Rose averaged 20.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 34.1 minutes a game.

"It's a process, but it's a much different process than what he's had to go through before," Forman said.

"Obviously he was disappointed at being injured, but I think he's in really good place and he's ready to attack rehab. I know he's really anxious to get back on the floor with his teammates."