2012 NBA Playoffs: Chicago Bulls Hopeful of Overcoming Derrick Rose's Absence

The Chicago Bulls' hopes of winning the 2012 NBA title appeared to be dashed when Derrick Rose hit the United Center floor clutching his left knee. With an MRI confirming an ACL tear, the Bulls now face the daunting task of chasing a title without Rose.

Kyle Korver took to Facebook to express his disbelief and empathy for Rose. Korver went on to note the team is committed to its goal of winning a championship and is ready to take on the challenge it now faces.

Korver's Facebook post embodies the spirit and toughness of this Bulls team. The Bulls' greatest asset outside of Rose is their cohesiveness as a unit. Every player on the Bulls fully buys into Tom Thibodeau's defense-first system. No one on the team complains about minutes, and there have been many late-game situations where the starters are on the bench rooting on their backups. 

Even with Rose done for the year, expect the Bulls to keep on battling. They play hard every single night, and that won't change now. They are the best defensive team and offensive rebounding team in the league. If they can continue to play to those strengths, they will give their opponents fits.

This Bulls playoff run could very well resemble the Boston Celtics' playoff run from 2009. The Celtics beat the Bulls in an epic seven-game, first-round series before losing to the Orlando Magic in Round 2. The Celtics were without Kevin Garnett that year, but they never gave in. The Celtics played hard and gave their all throughout the playoffs. Ultimately the loss of Garnett was too great, and the Celtics fell short, but they competed, refused to lose to the Bulls and gave the Magic all they could handle.

The Bulls, like the 2009 Celtics, play hard and are capable of winning every game they play in. They may ultimately lack the extra punch needed for a championship—that only Rose would have been able to provide—but the Bulls will be a very tough out for any opponent.