Chicago Bulls: 5 Ways Derrick Rose Can Lead Team To Conference Finals
By Jake Hyman
The Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls epitomizes must-watch NBA basketball. In Game 1, Chicago entered the hostile Quicken Loans Arena as Pau Gasol proved to be lethal in the 99-92 triumph. The Spaniard dropped 21 points and former MVP Derrick Rose went toe-to-toe with Kyrie Irving in a point-guard duel.
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The Cavs, already situated with the burden of losing Kevin Love in the series, needed that sparring partner the Celtics failed to bring in the first round. LeBron James, as elite players tend to do, carried his Cleveland comrades in dominant fashion to even the series in Game 4.
His 33 points led all scorers and he received contributions from Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov down low, who outworked the Bulls frontcourt.
This is how the series would play out. LeBron against Rose and the beasts on the block. Shifting to Chicago for Game 3, the rust was evident. The Bulls missed layups, put-backs, and were abysmal from behind the arc. LeBron, struggled to propel a unit lacking a playmaker. His seven turnovers led all teams and had to take over for a star floor general.
The other star floor general would generate the headlines, however.
After the enigma J.R. Smith sank a cold-blooded triple to tie the game at 96, Rose had his playoff moment. The point guard received the inbounds pass, curled over a Taj Gibson screen, and banked in the game-winning three. Rose, who hit his first three of the game, looked up to the sea of red.
The passion he exuded was captivating to those who knew the struggle the hometown hero has been through over the years.
Both teams endured dry spells before the fourth quarter of Game 4 as Chicago claimed a seven-point lead. An already unpredictable series, a tandem of J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov drastically altered the course of the game on the perimeter and down low. Up 80-73 with 4:03 remaining, the Cavs looked to bring a win back to Ohio. Rose had other plans.
The athletic marvel sank a triple from the top of the key and later tied it up at 84 with a driving layup over Mozgov. He finished with a game-high 31 points. LeBron, on the subsequent possession, seemingly got hacked by Joakim Noah and later blocked by Nicola Mirotic. With the refs checking the monitor for the appropriate time, the Cavs were rewarded with a chance to dial up a play.
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Any casual or hardcore basketball fan knew who the ball was going to. Rookie Matthew Dellavadova took the inbounds pass as LeBron separated from Jimmy Butler. Fading away, he shot over the wing and nailed the game winner in front of the Bulls bench to tie the series at two games.
Heading back to Cleveland, the Bulls face a must-win contest in an environment the have already conquered. Here’s how Derrick Rose reclaims the series and takes them to the conference finals.
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