The Rose that Grew from the Concrete

The Rose that grew from the concrete, of injury, returned to the form we hope to eventually witness consistently. Derrick Rose, who recently has returned from his second torn meniscus injury, had a productive night leading the Bulls to a 103-91 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Rose had 23 points (9-16 from the field) and 7 assists in only 27 minutes playing tonight. From shots from outside to drives to the hoop, Rose seemed to be successfully in giving the audience glimpses of the MVP that they witnessed from 2010-2011. This of course didn’t seem to be the case earlier this year, while battling with injuries and shooting a career low, through 50+ games, of 40.5% from the line.

This marked his first playoff game he was able to play in, due to injury the previous 2 years, since April 28^th of 2012, where he also scored 23 points, but against the Philadelphia 76ers. In that game, tragedy struck in the 4^th quarter when Rose leaped up to fake a shot to then pass and then came back down with a torn Achilles tendon. The effect took in immediately for the Bulls as they went on to lose 4 of their next 5 games of that playoff series, following that win.

As well as Rose, Jimmy Butler was another that stood out on the Bulls as they surpassed Milwaukee tonight, with 25 points and 6 assists. Gasol was not too shabby himself tonight, complimenting the two with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Despite Chicago committing 19 turnovers to Milwaukee’s 13, this was a game of making the shots when needed, as Chicago shot 45% from the field, while Milwaukee fell to 39%. With 3 of their key players healthy and bringing the impact they brought tonight, Rose, Butler, and Noah, who had 11 rebounds himself tonight, Chicago looks to only grow stronger in the series.

A previously injury ridden Chicago, with Rose, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler among the lengthy list of those struck with injury this year, was not concerned with them heading into the game tonight.  Chicago had ended out the season strong with a 4 game winning streak, but with hesitation on their health many wondered if the tone would be set. Their emergence tonight collectively seemed to validate their tone they were expected to set from the start. The tone they set is to be taken seriously for this year’s postseason. They could possibly live up to that expectation of being the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. The impact a healthy Bulls team has to offer can cause many of the public to reevaluate their prediction that they won’t come out of the conference, like a Cavs and a Hawks team is expected to.

The Bucks, despite being the 8^th stingiest scoring defense in the NBA this year, had trouble tonight keeping the margin tight. Having pulled within a three point deficit at the beginning of the 3^rd quarter, the Bulls outscored them on a 15-7 run. Although Khris Middleton accumulated 18 points and notched 4 steals, the Bulls seemed to have the edge for the game’s majority.  Whether it was neutralizing Rose from facilitating the offense, Butler from executing his shots from the field, or Gasol’s series of swatting shots tonight, the Bucks have a lot on their plate to game plan for Monday’s night matchup.