Is Derrick Rose the reason Chicago is up 3-0 instead of down 3-0?
Game 1. Derrick Rose scores 39 points, Chicago wins 104-99. Game 2. Derrick Rose scores 36 points, Chicago wins 96-90. Game 3. Derrick Rose scores 23 points, Chicago wins 88-84. Rose has been a huge difference maker, putting in a go-ahead layup to extend the Chicago lead to 3-0. Now, the Bulls are just one win away, and if Rose keeps it up, 4-0 is in sight.
Luol Deng has had a great series and has done just enough to help the Bulls defeat Indiana in each game. Deng had some nice jumpers in each game, and he is currently averaging 17.7 PPG during the playoffs.
However, Carlos Boozer is only averaging 11 PPG, and he added just 4 to the Bulls side of the scoreboard in Game 3. It might be OK now, but Boozer will need to do more for the Bulls to thrive against Orlando or Atlanta.
Joakim Noah is only averaging 8.3 points per game, but again, the Bulls are up 3-0. No other unexpected player is stepping up. Deng has added points, and Carlos Boozer helped in Game 2, Noah in Game 1, and Deng in all 3. But the real reason is definitely Derrick Rose.
Rose was having a good game, a little more than his average, but the Bulls trailed Indiana 98-88 with 3:28 left. Joakim Noah scored a couple, making it a 4 point game, and Rose took over. A drive down the middle and spectacular basket plus another great play tied it, then his assist to Kyle Korver gave Chicago the lead.
In Game 2, Rose added 14 to the Bulls side, helping them keep pace and a 2 point lead in the fourth, then watching Kyle Korver drain a triple and help Chicago win 96-90. In Game 3, Rose only scored 23, but the game-winning layup was enough.
The ability he has to drive to the hoop, finish, draw fouls, make the foul shots, drain jumpers, and play defense is just crazy. When it was down to him and Michael Beasley for the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Bulls saw that in Rose and swiped him. Now, he is starting to repay them.
Rose has scored the Bulls three playoff seasons in three years at the helm, but this is the time for Chicago to dominate. In his first year, Chicago lost in seven to the Celtics, and in his second year, Chicago lost 4-1 to Cleveland.
But now, Derrick Rose is a superstar, Carlos Boozer is in the Windy City, Luol Deng is improved and Kyle Korver is stepping up and making plays. These guys are not doing the best job supporting Rose, but once challenged, they will rise to the occasion.
Each game has been close, and Rose has been the difference maker. It's hard to score 39 and 36 in back-to-back games and watch the supporting cast completely get dominated by Indiana, and only win by 5 or 6 (each game could have gone either way easily). The cast rose to the occasion in Game 3, but it was Rose who stepped up, slipped by Dahatnay Jones and the rest of the Pacers D and put up a nice left-handed layup.
Indiana will not go down easily in Game 4. They will play hard and they will probably be more prepared than Chicago. Remember, Derrick Rose tallied 42 in the regular season against the Pacers, and Indiana put the Bulls to rest 115-108. Is the supporting cast blanketed by Indiana, or are they just not doing their share?
It could be either one, considering that the Bulls were able to succeed in games where Rose wasn't playing well. Yes, Derrick Rose is the only reason Chicago is up 3-0 instead of down 3-0. If C.J Watson went in, he wouldn't be able to carry the astronomical load Rose holds every night. Rose has been very clutch and key for Chicago, and if they let go of him, Indiana could win the series.
If Chicago wants to win in the second round (and Game 4), they will need much more from Boozer and Noah. Boozer and Noah need to play like building blocks, stop the Pacers on D, and create easy buckets, which leads to a win. They did a good job of that in Game 3, but the Pacers finally figured out Rose. If Rose is stopped, Deng needs to play a little better, and Boozer and Noah need to play their best, and it will need to show.
Game 4 is 11:30 AM PT on Saturday, April 23.
Luol Deng has had a great series and has done just enough to help the Bulls defeat Indiana in each game. Deng had some nice jumpers in each game, and he is currently averaging 17.7 PPG during the playoffs.
However, Carlos Boozer is only averaging 11 PPG, and he added just 4 to the Bulls side of the scoreboard in Game 3. It might be OK now, but Boozer will need to do more for the Bulls to thrive against Orlando or Atlanta.
Joakim Noah is only averaging 8.3 points per game, but again, the Bulls are up 3-0. No other unexpected player is stepping up. Deng has added points, and Carlos Boozer helped in Game 2, Noah in Game 1, and Deng in all 3. But the real reason is definitely Derrick Rose.
Rose was having a good game, a little more than his average, but the Bulls trailed Indiana 98-88 with 3:28 left. Joakim Noah scored a couple, making it a 4 point game, and Rose took over. A drive down the middle and spectacular basket plus another great play tied it, then his assist to Kyle Korver gave Chicago the lead.
In Game 2, Rose added 14 to the Bulls side, helping them keep pace and a 2 point lead in the fourth, then watching Kyle Korver drain a triple and help Chicago win 96-90. In Game 3, Rose only scored 23, but the game-winning layup was enough.
The ability he has to drive to the hoop, finish, draw fouls, make the foul shots, drain jumpers, and play defense is just crazy. When it was down to him and Michael Beasley for the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Bulls saw that in Rose and swiped him. Now, he is starting to repay them.
Rose has scored the Bulls three playoff seasons in three years at the helm, but this is the time for Chicago to dominate. In his first year, Chicago lost in seven to the Celtics, and in his second year, Chicago lost 4-1 to Cleveland.
But now, Derrick Rose is a superstar, Carlos Boozer is in the Windy City, Luol Deng is improved and Kyle Korver is stepping up and making plays. These guys are not doing the best job supporting Rose, but once challenged, they will rise to the occasion.
Each game has been close, and Rose has been the difference maker. It's hard to score 39 and 36 in back-to-back games and watch the supporting cast completely get dominated by Indiana, and only win by 5 or 6 (each game could have gone either way easily). The cast rose to the occasion in Game 3, but it was Rose who stepped up, slipped by Dahatnay Jones and the rest of the Pacers D and put up a nice left-handed layup.
Indiana will not go down easily in Game 4. They will play hard and they will probably be more prepared than Chicago. Remember, Derrick Rose tallied 42 in the regular season against the Pacers, and Indiana put the Bulls to rest 115-108. Is the supporting cast blanketed by Indiana, or are they just not doing their share?
It could be either one, considering that the Bulls were able to succeed in games where Rose wasn't playing well. Yes, Derrick Rose is the only reason Chicago is up 3-0 instead of down 3-0. If C.J Watson went in, he wouldn't be able to carry the astronomical load Rose holds every night. Rose has been very clutch and key for Chicago, and if they let go of him, Indiana could win the series.
If Chicago wants to win in the second round (and Game 4), they will need much more from Boozer and Noah. Boozer and Noah need to play like building blocks, stop the Pacers on D, and create easy buckets, which leads to a win. They did a good job of that in Game 3, but the Pacers finally figured out Rose. If Rose is stopped, Deng needs to play a little better, and Boozer and Noah need to play their best, and it will need to show.
Game 4 is 11:30 AM PT on Saturday, April 23.
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