Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Bulls Dominate Celtics
Chicago wanted to make a statement tonight and they did—the statement they made was "We're, better than you." The Bulls outclassed Boston in every aspect of the game—they just flat outplayed the Celtics, beating them going away, 97-81.
It was a game which all but clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the Bulls as they reduced their magic number to one, meaning any Bulls win or Celtics loss will assure the Bulls of having the Eastern Conference locked up.
Derrick Rose may have clinched the MVP, as well as had yet another superb game in prime time on TNT. Rose scored 30 points on just 18 shots, was 2-of-5 behind the arc, 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, 9-of-16 from the field, and added eight assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Defensively he stifled Rondo who, apart from a two-minute stretch at the beginning of the third quarter, was completely ineffective all night. Rondo only scored seven points on 10 field goal attempts.
Rose wasn't the only one who played suffocating defense either. The Celtics are the team with the highest field goal percentage, but tonight they were held to just 38 percent from the field. The only Celtic starters who hit double figures were Paul Pierce with 15 points and Kevin Garnett with 10. Jeff Green also hit double figures off the bench with 10.
Offensively, aiding the Bulls cause were excellent games from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Deng scored 23 points, including 2-of-2 from three. Boozer scored 14 points and led the Bulls in rebounds.
On one of the more spectacular plays of the night, Rose put on what I can only describe as "Grandma's House." You know the song, "Over the River and through the woods, to Grandma's house we go." Rose crossed over Rondo, leaving him chasing, then split through three Celtics, switched sides under the net and flipped the ball back up and over and through the rim.
Rose went over the Rondo and through the trees and to "Grandma's House." Hence, my naming the move Grandma's House.
That was just one of a series of spectacular plays where Rose just seemed to be able to get to the rim at will. Rondo was completely powerless to stop him, and on another play, he left Rondo literally sliding down the court on his stomach trying to foul him. Technically. Rose missed that shot, but Deng got the put-back.
His passing was special too, and when Deng was 0-4 to start the game, Rose used his penetration to pull the entire Celtic team toward him, leaving Deng wide open behind the arc. Rose hit him for the pass and Deng drained it. From there on out he was 9-14.
While it's doubtful the Bulls have Boston worried about the postseason, the game had to give Chicago the confidence that they can win, but not only that. After this game Chicago should have a genuine belief that they are the best team in the Eastern Conference.
In fact, considering that this marked their 11th straight win over the "elite" teams in the NBA (the top four seeds in the two conferences), and that they have the best record in the NBA over the last 60 games, the Bulls can feel with good reason they are the best team in the NBA.
