Things could not get much worse if you're a Chicago Bulls fan.

This was supposed to be the year--their year. This was supposed to be the time when their hard work, hard-nosed defense and seemingly endless grit and uncanny patience were rewarded with the return of "The One," that one being the dynamic Derrick Rose. This was supposed to be the year when led by the offensively superb, obscenely athletic Chicago-born point guard, the crew of the talented and controversial Joakim Noah, the bullish Carlos Boozer, the dangerous Luol Deng and their solid supporting crew were finally going to challenge the Miami Heat for Eastern Conference supremacy in a fair, equal fight in June. This was supposed to be their time.

And then, their worst nightmare came to life.

Rose, recovering from left ACL surgery that kept him out of action for all of last season, went down once again on Nov. 22 in Portland during a game against the Trail Blazers, tearing the meniscus in his left knee. The result was devastating--Rose now will miss the rest of the season as he opted to remove the torn meniscus with surgery.

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Now, the list of questions starts to grow. Can Rose return this season? Can the Bulls make the playoffs? If they can, how deep can they go? And who needs to step up with Rose out? LatinoPost.com attempts to answer those questions:

Rose's Possible Return

Rose did offer a glimmer of hope for the Bulls faithful last week by hinting that if--and that's a BIG "if"--the rehab goes well, he might return for the playoffs.

"If I'm healthy and the situation is right, I'm going to be back playing," Rose said Thursday during a news conference in his first public comments since tearing the meniscus in his right knee Nov. 22. "If I'm healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I'll be out there playing. But if it's something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there's no need."

But let's be realistic for a second here, folks. We've heard this song and seen this dance before. Last season, Rose dropped a few hints that he might suit up for the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Nets. That didn't pan out. Then fans were teased with the idea that Rose would lace 'em up for the Bulls' physical, but largely one-sided semifinals series against the defending champs the Miami Heat. That was a no-go, too. As nice as it is to dream about the idea of Rose donning his red-and-black jersey and returning to save the day like some kind of comic book superhero, the previous track record with Rose and the Bulls suggest that Bulls fans will have to wait until next fall to see their beloved franchise star hit the hardwood again. With his knees now seriously questionable, no way are the Bulls going to risk what could be the next five to 10 years of the franchise's future on a shaky bet that Rose will be 100 percent healthy for the playoffs, throwing their centerpiece star out into the grind of the most physical and intense basketball of the entire year with the pressure of the entire season on his sculpted shoulders. There's no reason they should, either. If Rose couldn't hold up under just 10 November games, how is he supposed to hold up against the stifling defense of the Indiana Pacers or the smothering presence of LeBron James and the Heat?

And that brings to mind another critical question: exactly how are the Bulls going to make the playoffs now that their biggest star just fell from their sky?

Making the Playoff Cut

Last season was a painful one--literally--for the injury-ravaged Chicago team, but they persevered to a 45-37 record for the fifth seed in the East before putting up a gutsy, scrappy performance in the playoffs that took them to the second round. But that was a tad different. Back then, the Bulls were operating under the assumption that they just had to make a good showing. They knew that Rose would likely not be back that year, but it was a point of personal pride with them that they go out and show just how good they were without their top gun in the holster. And more importantly, they knew that eventually, Rose would come back.

He did...and that lasted for 10 games before he was gone again.

Now, the Bulls have the uphill task of trying to make it back to the postseason with the same motley cast of characters they had last season. With Rose not likely to be of any help anytime soon. However, there are some key things that the Bulls have going for them.

1) They've been there before. Oh, have they ever. They know what it's like to be with their backs against the wall with nothing but their guts and fighting spirit. The Bulls rode that spirit and gumption and turned it into a respectable playoff run, even giving Miami a bloody nose in their short five-game series. They can do that again this time around, especially since they know the recipe for how to get there. And it doesn't hurt that this other factor plays in...

2) The East is Weak. As it stands on Tuesday, only five of the 15 teams in the East have a winning record. The rest of them, including the Bulls, are under .500. Granted, it might not remain that way for long, but the East has never looked as wide open for the remaining teams that are not Miami and Indiana as it does now. If the Bulls can start stringing together a few winning streaks here and there, they could really take off and perhaps build some momentum late in the season--particularly in April, as March will have Chicago see some tough tests against the likes of Indiana, Portland and Miami--the Bulls could be on to something here.

3) They're deep. The Bulls were comprised of a team so deep that their reserve corps had the nickname of "Bench Mob." They may be without their key piece, but when you get past the fact that they are not a high-scoring team--only 94.2 points per game scored, fifth lowest in the NBA--they can rebound with the best of them and their defense, allowing only 94.0 points a night for the 4^th best defensive ranking in the league in that category, is hard-hitting and suffocating. They have the tools to make any team in the NBA have a miserable night, and that bodes well for them come April and, perhaps, May.

Who has to Step Up?

The answer: Well, everyone.

When a big piece of the road to the NBA title in Rose gets blown out of the ground, it's up to the other pieces to help bridge the gap. Basketball, more than most other sports, is a team game in the end, and the fact is, while the Bulls are deep, there are no true superstars, no LeBrons or Carmelo Anthonys or Kobe Bryants around that are coming to the rescue. However, there are a few key players that can step up their game, and rise to the occasion in Rose's absence as the Bulls try and forge ahead:

Joakim Noah - Last year, no Bulls player stepped up his game more than Noah, who was a constant source of double-doubles for Chicago as he made his first-ever NBA All-Star Game. He was blocking, scoring, defending, rebounding, and making an overall impact on the game. Now, however, Noah is underperforming this season with only 9.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting and 8.8 rebounds. He's started to show signs of picking it up in the last 5 games on offense, but he needs to step up and assume leadership the way he did last season. Without him, the Bulls are toast.

Luol Deng - Deng has been the Bulls' main offensive weapon this season, averaging 19.4 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field. However, he is also nursing an Achilles injury and that could be potentially disastrous for the Bulls if he gets hurt. They will need the big 6'9 Sudanese hoops star at his finest this season if they want to extend their playing days into the late spring.

Carlos Boozer - Boozer's tenure with the Bulls has been underwhelming after the former Duke power forward came off a dominating stint in Utah. Over his last five games, Boozer failed twice to score in double digits. He's big, strong and talented, but he will definitely need to be more consistent, especially with his shot selection. He has to start getting into a solid rhythm where he can start posting and shooting better. But if he plays his cards right, Boozer could be the breakout star for the Bulls this season.

Mike Dunleavy - A strong pickup from Milwaukee, Dunleavy brings a sharpshooting touch to Chicago, particularly from three point range, where he is a career 37.3 percent shooter from downtown. However, he's has a slow start to the season, averaging only 8.8 points on 42.7 percent shooting. A downtown specialist can do a lot to get a team going; ask Steve Kerr, the legendary three-point bomber from the Bulls' late 90s dynasty. Or Reggie Miller. If Dunleavy can get it going, he can help ignite a spark in this rusty Bulls' offensive engine.

Is there a simple answer to the Bulls' conundrum? No. It's a lot of things. Talented guys have to step up. Stars have to step up and play like stars. Guys have to start producing on offense. Their shooting has to improve drastically. And more important than anything, they have to stay healthy. But if Chicago can adjust to these things, and with a little bit of luck, they could be the dark horse of the playoffs. Otherwise, the Bulls are in for another long and painful season without a ring.