Why the Chicago Bulls' 2011-2012 Playoff Run Was Heartbreaking to Watch

The Chicago Bulls' recent playoff run is the most heartbreaking tale of missed opportunity in the history of the franchise.

Chicago went into the season with the NBA's best roster.

They were building off great momentum from last year's game-changing season.  Led by superstar Derrick Rose, a supporting cast of stars Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, and basketball's best bench, the team was poised to win the Bulls' first championship since the Jordan era.

The regular season was a bumpy road but Chicago pulled through.  

It could be heart-wrenching, but it was also exciting.  Rose had a few injuries and missed large chunks of the year but the team persevered. Deng played through a wrist injury and gamely led the team.  

And, at the end of it, the Bulls were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and Rose was healthy to start the playoffs.  Until a couple minutes left in the first game against Philadelphia, the team looked ready to cruise toward the NBA title.

Then, crash.  

When Rose fell down hard on an awkward angle and began clutching himself and screaming, it was over.  In one scary, heart-breaking moment, it was all over.  Rose's year...and the Bulls season.

Oh sure, it was not over at that moment.  There were four games (at least) left in just that series.  But all the hopes and dreams that every Chicago fan had for this season were instantly dashed.  

The Bulls promised to gamely fight on in the series.  

Fans were saddened, but they convinced themselves the team would regroup.  But then, a couple games later, Noah injured himself driving to the basket.  Chicago fans felt their stomachs collectively drop in nauseous agony, groaning together as they watched the team's second-best player join the city's superstar on the bench.

In an instant, whatever hope fans had left were dashed.  All that's left is heartbreak.  

And next year.