Derrick Rose: Did Chicago Bulls MVP Choke in Game 4 Against Heat?
By on May 24, 2011
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Derrick Rose Can't Rescue Bulls in Game 4 Loss to Heat
Heading into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Chicago Bulls star point guard and league MVP Derrick Rose said he needed to be more aggressive in order to overcome the Miami Heat's suffocating defense.
Rose definitely did his damndest to live up to that idea. By halftime, he had taken 14 shots, and ended up with a game-high 27. The last time he took that many shots was in Game 3 of the conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, an effort that resulted in a career-high 44 points and a Bulls win.
Despite all his shots in game 4 on Tuesday night, Rose was not nearly as productive. He made just eight field goals and scored just 23 points.
All of that could have been forgiven if the Bulls had won. But they lost 101-93, giving them their first three-game losing streak of the season. They are now one loss away from having their season come to a close.
But wait, it gets worse. In case you missed it, the loss was kinda Rose's fault.
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Make no mistake, Rose and the Bulls definitely had their chances to win Game 4, but Rose just couldn't come through.
Rose had a chance to give the Bulls the lead with two free throws with the Heat leading 86-85 with 1:09 to go, and he missed one of them.
With 28 seconds to go, Rose again had a shot to give the Bulls the lead, but missed a mid-range jumper.
After a huge offensive foul by LeBron James with eight seconds to go, Rose got the final shot. He air balled it.
In the overtime period, Rose did not score a single point, and the Heat outscored the Bulls 16-8 to put themselves within a win of the Finals.
There's no point in sugarcoating it, Derrick Rose choked.
The good news: Game 5 is in Chicago on Thursday night, and the fat lady isn't signing quite yet. Now that he's choked once, the only thing left for Rose to do is lead the Bulls on an impossible comeback.
I don't know about you, but I don't doubt his ability to do so.
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