Scoring 23 points in a playoff game is an ordinary feat by the standards of Derrick Rose. But piling 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting, fresh from a third surgery less than two months ago, and making the NBA playoffs for the first time in three years, that output is really something.
That was quite a statement game from the Chicago Bulls’ All-Star point guard during his first NBA playoff game since 2012, as he helped his team win Game 1 of their Eastern Conference matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on April 18 with 103-91 victory.
While his 23 points was second only to Jimmy Butler’s 25 markers for the Bulls, it was more than enough to hold off the repeatedly surging Bucks and give them 1-0 edge on their playoff encounter.
It was a successful return to the playoffs for Rose because he performed well above the conservative expectations set on him by his coach and the entire team.
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau attributes the good play of Derrick Rose in his first playoff game in three years to his ‘break-in’ period of a little over a week where he played in the last five regular season games of the Bulls despite getting only an average of 20 minutes playing time.
A little more emotion
During the post-game press conference, Derrick Rose became a bit too emotional as he was probably caught by the significance of the occasion that he felt he needed to elaborate on, notes the Bleacher Report.
Rose said that when a player like him misses a long period of time playing the sport he truly loves and dedicating almost his entire life to one craft or art, it often comes out in a weird way.
He said that his performance in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks was not meant to be done on purpose. He just clicked during the game and made all the shots that mattered most.
Although there’s still a long way to go before Derrick Rose and anybody else in the sport can claim that he is finally back, the Bulls point guard does not want himself to be carried away by the moment.
Looking forward to meeting LeBron James
While it is still too early to even think or discuss about it, Derrick Rose is actually looking forward to finally facing LeBron James again in the NBA playoffs.
The last time that they met in the playoffs was during the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2011-12 NBA season where LeBron James, who was still donning the Miami Heat uniform back then, overcome Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls as they booked their ticket to the NBA Finals and copped their second championship title against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If both the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers stay true to their forms, the two teams are likely to face each other in the Eastern Conference semifinals in less than two weeks time. That would be the defining moment for Derrick Rose whether he is officially back as the Chief Bull or still not yet.