Rose rises to the occasion for Bulls
The biggest cheer at the United Center on Saturday might have been when Derrick Rose checked out with 51 seconds left in the Bulls' 103-91 victory over Milwaukee.
Earlier in the night, about five minutes into the first quarter, fans made a sound that was difficult to describe when Rose suffered an awkward fall, then stayed on the ground for a few seconds. The reaction was sort of an alarmed gasp combined with resigned disgust.
Rose eventually was helped to his feet by a couple of teammates, and he went to the bench about a minute later. So his health status was a bit of a mystery for the next several minutes.
Asked about the fall after the game, Rose had to be reminded what happened.
"I was just trying to catch my breath," he said. "All I heard was Joakim (Noah) telling me to take my time. Just a veteran move, I think, to rest a little bit before the play starts again."
When Rose returned in the second quarter, he erased all doubts about his health. He attacked the basket aggressively and went 5-for-5 from the field, all driving layups. In the third quarter, he took a few steps back and drained 3 baskets from 3-point range.
When it was over, Rose had 23 points and 7 assists. Jimmy Butler led the team with 25 points, and the Bulls cruised to a double-digit victory in Game 1 of this first-round playoff series.
There obviously was extra meaning to Rose's performance because this was his first playoff game since April 28, 2012, when he suffered a torn ACL late in a first-round game with Philadelphia.
"It felt good. It felt normal," he said. "I'm grateful to be playing with the teammates I have right now. They allow me to play the way that I normally play. It's an honor. I'm really fortunate because I think anywhere else it wouldn't be the same."
Just like those fans who stood to give Rose an ovation in the fourth quarter, his teammates recognize what a welcome sight it was to see him play at a high level.
"I think it was special to all of us," Noah said. "It was good to see him out there competing the way he was competing. He had a lot of positive energy. I think he led the team great. He was really into it."
Rose was more emotional than usual. Late in the second quarter, he picked up his third foul and as he walked to the bench, he waved his arms to incite the crowd.
"When you miss long periods of time playing a sport that you love playing or dedicate your life to one craft or your art, it comes out in a weird way," Rose said. "I didn't mean to do it on purpose, it just came out and like I said, it's grind mode.
"This entire time I've been grinding and I felt like a prepared myself for this game tonight and hopefully I can do the same next game."
After tearing the ACL in his left knee in that 2012 playoff game, Rose missed the following season. He came back in 2013-14 but lasted just 10 games before tearing meniscus cartilage in his right knee.
Rose played in 51 regular-season games this season - a big improvement from 0 and 10 - but missed 20 games late in the season after getting a loose piece of cartilage trimmed from his right knee.
So people had every reason to be worried when Rose landed awkwardly in the first quarter. He seemed to come back a few minutes later determined to attack the basket, something few NBA players can do as well.
"I just had to get my second wind and attack and see what they were giving me," he said. "They're not double-teaming me, so there's a lot of space out there and I'm just running around freely."
"It was special to watch him play like that," Noah added. "He was having a lot of fun out there."
This playoff run might be fun for the Bulls if Rose can keep this up. But this was only the first step. Game 2 is Monday at the UC.
"I think we're going to get better as these playoffs go on," Noah said. "We'll go back to the drawing board tomorrow. We're definitely a focused group right now."
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