NBA Playoffs 2011: Chicago Bulls Go as Derrick Rose Goes
By on May 19, 2011
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2011 NBA Playoff Update:
It is no secret that Derrick Rose is the catalyst and most important player on the Chicago Bulls.
He is not only their leader on and off the court, but the city seems to look to him as the one person who could finally take the torch from Michael Jordan and lead the Bulls to the Promised Land.
The problem though is that too much of the Bulls success might be riding on Rose’s shoulders right now, so if he has an off night like he did in game two the Bulls could be in trouble.
Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com explains this more in here\ recent column.
While his 21 points Wednesday night equaled that of three-fifths of the Bulls' starting lineup and surpassed by one point the total offensive output of their bench, Rose had one of those games that a young player hopes to learn from, but the NBA's Most Valuable Player simply can't have.
It's the one chink in the Bulls' armor. That is, on top of the fierce defense and the scrappy rebounding and the deep bench, as complete a team as the Bulls have become, they still depend on Rose for their ultimate survival.
"I missed a lot of shots that I normally hit," Rose said after the Bulls' 85-75 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, tying the series.
While he shot a poorer percentage in two games against the Pacers, scored fewer points in the clincher against Atlanta and a Game 4 loss to Indiana, and has been generally poor from 3-point range throughout the playoffs -- 21-of-78 for 27 percent, it was Rose's inability to make the big play or hit the big shot with the game in the balance that brought into focus just how much the Bulls depend on him.
For more up to date news, opinions and analysis on the NBA playoffs stay right here on this update thread, and as always count on Bleacher Report for all of your sport’s needs.
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