Why the Chicago Bulls Cannot Win an NBA Title Without Derrick Rose

The Chicago Bulls may be defined by depth, defense and consistency, but don't think for one moment that they can win an NBA championship without Derrick Rose.  He is the one Bulls player great teams must double- or triple-team late in games and therefore is essential to their title hopes.  

It is true that Chicago can play so well without its starters that sometimes it seems the Bulls don't need them to succeed.  Several games ago, Chicago blew out Orlando with Rose on the bench.  The team has played without Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Richard Hamilton and Joakim Noah at varying times this season, sometimes successfully absorbing the loss of several team stars at one time.

Chicago goes 12-deep on the roster and their depth is what allows them to temporarily absorb the loss of a star player and not miss a beat.  But jumping to the conclusion that it means the Bulls' depth gives them a championship shot without their superstar is simply wrong.

Why? Because Rose is Chicago's fearless finisher at the end of close games.

Rose is a killer-instinct superstar.  He plays well in the first 45 minutes of a game, but it is the last few minutes where he defines himself.  He is a team leader who is not afraid to drive into the lane and take a hard foul with a few seconds left, or drill a mid-range shot to keep Chicago in the game.  

Without him on the floor, Chicago has many good players, but none that teams fear at the end of a game. Deng, Hamilton, Boozer and Noah are all great complimentary stars.  Kyle Korver is a great shooter. John Lucas III is an excellent backup point guard.  But opposing teams don't fear letting them have the rock at the end of the game.

So, when Rose is not on the floor, the Bulls are extremely vulnerable to great teams at the end of games.  Without the Bulls unable to put anyone on the floor who needs to be triple (or even double) teamed, opposing teams can play tough, close-up man coverage against Chicago.  

But when Rose is out there, the defense has to doubly account for him, which usually leads to a zone defense or leaving a man open.  And Chicago has several players, Hamilton, Deng, Boozer and Noah among them, who can make the necessary play when they are left open.

So, it's easy to watch Chicago win regular season games without Rose and say they don't need him. But in reality, when the game is on the line against a top team in the playoffs, having him out there changes the whole dynamic.  He is the Bulls' one superstar defenses must account for and that makes him crucial to their championship hopes.