Tom Thibodeau Stands by Derrick Rose in the Face of LeBron James' Stifling D

Sometimes, you just have to tip your cap to the other guy.

And that’s what Derrick Rose did after Tuesday’s Game 4 loss to the Miami Heat.

With eight seconds left in regulation and after Rose missed what would have prevailed as the game-winning free throw, he had a chance to redeem his atrocious fourth-quarter performance by draining the game-winner to send the series back to Chicago tied 2-2.

But in the face of LeBron James’ stifling defense, Rose faltered, badly missing the potential game-winner.

“I just tried to get a good look, take the clock all the way down,” Rose said in his postgame press conference.

“LeBron played good defense. It was on line, but it was just a little too short.”

The Bulls would go on to lose, 101-93, after a pair of Rose’s shots got blocked in an overtime period in which he couldn’t seem to hold on to the ball when driving to the basket.

He just couldn’t seem to find an answer for James’ defense.

And that’s nothing new. James is no slouch on defense. In this new era of run-and-gun offenses and fast-break basketball, defense has largely gone by the wayside.

But not in Miami.

The Heat already had a three-time NBA all-defensive second-teamer in Dwyane Wade before James came to town with a pair of second-team all-defensive honors himself to go along with two first-team all-defensive honors.

And he earned his third-career first-team all-defensive spot in 2011.

One must give credit where credit is due, and James’ defense is deserving to the tune of holding Rose, arguably the game’s brightest and most exciting young star, to two-of-13 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime in Chicago’s last three losses.

The Bulls simply don’t have another option in the final seconds other than Rose, so head coach Tom Thibodeau had no choice but to isolate Rose with James and hope for the best.

And Thibodeau stood by Rose after the game despite his young star’s poor performance down the stretch.

“We wanted to get the last shot of the game, give him space to get to his spot, and he missed,” Thibodeau said in his postgame press conference.

“Listen—Derrick Rose—I wouldn’t want to have any other guy. I’m with that guy all the way. He’s a great player, great competitor, and I have great belief in him.”

And he should stand by Rose. Even if the Bulls don’t get past the Heat and to the NBA Finals, Rose and Thibodeau will be in title contention for a long time and will likely win a championship together, perhaps even multiple titles.

But it looks like LeBron James will get there first.