NBA Playoffs 2012: Updated Championship Rankings After Derrick Rose Injury
In the closing minutes of Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Derrick Rose landed awkwardly on his left knee and was helped off the court by his Bulls teammates. It was later revealed that Rose had suffered a torn ACL and was out of the 2012 NBA playoffs.
Rose's injury changes the playoff picture dramatically. His Bulls own the best regular-season record in the NBA, but how will the fare without him? Can they still win the championship?
Here are the top five contenders for the Larry O'Brien Trophy following Derrick Rose's season-ending injury.
5. Chicago Bulls
1 of 5Even with their star point guard out for the playoffs, the Bulls are still a contender for the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Let's not forget Rose missed 27 regular-season games with injury, yet the Bulls still managed to compile the best record in the NBA (50-16).
Chicago is the best defensive team in the league and still has Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng to pick up the slack.
I still believe the Bulls will advance to the Eastern Conference finals, however, after that, they will struggle to close out close games without the 2010-2011 MVP.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
2 of 5The Lakers became contenders at the trade deadline where they acquired point guard Ramon Sessions. The former Cleveland player sparked a previously tired Lakers offense into life, and they managed to claim the No. 3 seed out West.
Los Angeles may struggle to get out of a fiercely competitive Western Conference, but if they can get on a roll, they will pose a real threat to the likes of Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
The biggest thing in the Lakers' favour is that they possess the best closer in the game—Kobe Bryant.
If Kobe can overcome the injury concerns that plagued him in the latter half of the regular season, he will have a real chance to claim ring No. 6.
3. San Antonio Spurs
3 of 5Despite claiming the top seed in the West, I believe the Spurs will struggle with a congested playoff schedule that even features back-to-back games in the second round.
The Spurs do have the deepest roster in the NBA and are one of the few teams with a 12-man rotation, but this season, they have relied solely on one man—Tony Parker.
If Parker were to go down, the Spurs championship hopes would be over. Tim Duncan is no more than a solid role player these days, and Manu Ginobili struggles to stay healthy.
Without their French point guard, the Spurs are nothing.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
4 of 5The Thunder lost focus at the end of the regular season, and as a result, their performance slipped.
Oklahoma City will be a different beast in the playoffs, and their two-headed monster will spark into life. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were both top-five scorers this past season and are arguably the most explosive duo in the NBA.
Unlike their aging counterparts, San Antonio, the Thunder's young legs should allow them to comfortably negotiate a tight schedule.
The only concern for Oklahoma City is turnovers. They led the league in them with over 16 a game. If they can find a way to look after the ball, watch out.
1. Miami Heat
5 of 5Following Derrick Rose's ACL tear, LeBron James and the Miami Heat have become the undisputed favourites.
They should now have no trouble beating a Rose-less Bulls in a seven-game series. Their "Big Three" will simply be too much for Chicago to handle.
If the Heat can cope with pressure associated with the favourites' tag, LeBron will have a real chance to break his championship duck.
It's time for the most gifted basketball player on the planet to shine.
