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Dan Peters
Sports Editor
Oak Park
Journal
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© Suburban Journals of Chicago
photo by Mark Rotor (File Photo)
Bulls
Steal Playoff Game #1 in O.T...As Rose Sharpens His Thorn's on the
Boston Celtics
By
Mark Rotor
March 18th, 2009
Game On! - 36-Point Playoff Debut Of Rookie Derrick Rose
Don’t start the ticker tape parade yet but if Derrick Rose can
repeat his spectacular breakout performance throughout the 1st
round, than lookout Celtics as they may be watching the 2009
NBA championship from their living room TVs with the young Chicago
Bulls playing spoiler to last year’s NBA champs.
The Upset!
With Chicago now in possession of the home court advantage, they can
win only their home games and would defeat the Celtics in 6 games.
Granted it is still a Herculean task for the neophyte Bulls however,
almost
anything is possible when the Bull's newest hero, Derrick Rose is
playing at the top of his game.
It was a rude awaking for Celtics fans on Saturday morning as the
Rookie phenom point-guard Derrick Rose scored a career high 36-points
to carry the Bulls to a thrilling over-time victory. The Celtics minus
the injured Kevin Garnet out for the series with a damaged right knee
were obliged to start a line-up that has won 22 of their last 26
contests
without their team leader. Boston couldn’t shake the young Bulls
trading
the lead 18 times only to be disappointed in the last second of
overtime
as Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas hit an 18-foot jump-shot to seal the
victory 105-103.
Tyrus
Thomas Gives Chicago an Unexpected Scoring Boost 16-Points
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
photo by Mark Rotor (File Photo)
“The Thorn” Sharpens
By the end of the 1st quarter all observers knew that
they were witnessing something very special as they watched
the brilliance of Derrick Rose, a NBA star in the making.
Rose who averaged 16.6 point per game in the regular season
not only surpassed his game average but more than doubled
it (36-points) in his debut in the playoffs.
Any time Chicago needed a basket they looked to #1 Rose
and he obliged. Rose stuck the Celtics with a pull-up jumpers, high
speed bursts to the basket or an assists to Chicago's big-men
under the rim. Rose was uncanny, performing like a ten year
veteran in his first NBA playoff contest.
When teammate Ben Gordon was asked about Rose’s lack of playoff
experience
he responded: “He doesn't need it. He's poised beyond his years. He
already
carries himself like a veteran out there. He had a phenomenal game
tonight,
to say the least."
ESPN asked Rose: What happened, you were suppose to be too young and
inexperienced to take on the champions? “It’ don’t really mater if you
play hard you can do anything. I was told to go out their and play my
game and I didn’t want to loose the game”
Rajon Rondo Scores 29-Points To Help Keep Pace With Rose
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
photo by Mark Rotor (File Photo)
Rose's Stats
Derrick Rose's stats alone wouldn’t do justice to his performance as
the fearless rookie attacked the basket in a way that few others
are able, under control with great acceleration, strength and flare.
But in Rose's case, seeing is believing.
One For The Record Books
Rose tied Kareem Abdul-Jabber NBA playoff record for a debut in
a playoff game scoring 36-points. Rose also broke one of Michel
Jordan’s Bulls team records for most points scored in a playoff
game debut by surpassing M.J's 35-points.
Rose was asked if he was aware he broke Kareem Abdul Jabber record
for debut in playoffs? He simply replied. “No, but I’m happy
I’m their.”
Let the Battles Begin– Game #1
Although many of the Celtics had a sub par shooting day including
Ray Allan 1-12 (4-points) and Paul Pierce 8-21 Rajon Rondo did not.
Rondo shoulder the scoring burden in an attempt to answer Rose’s
scoring jag. Rondo finished with 29-points, 7-assist and 9 rebounds.
The contest heightened as the match-up between Rondo and Rose
intensified
both on offense and on defense.
What was it like for you out on the court against Rondo, asked CSN?
Rose replied “He is a good player, good guy always attacking. Were just
competitors always having fun on the court.”
“He’s one of the toughest point guards to stay in front of." said
Rondo "He’s definitely quick, and he also uses his strength to
elevate over myself and our bigs tonight. And he finished at
the rim tonight extremely well. And when he got fouled he knocked
down his shots. So he played a great floor game. He had 11 assists
tonight, creating things. Creating mismatches on the other end
for us defensively. So give him a lot of credit. He played extremely
well tonight, especially being his first playoff game.”
Ben
Gordon Comes Alive in 2nd Half Scoring 20-Point
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
photo by Mark Rotor
Boy Are The Stars Shining!
Tyrus Thomas
The mid-range jump shot has not always been Tyrus’s most reliable
weapon but in the overtime Chicago depended on Thomas on two
key possession. With 1:46 left he hit a 15-foot jumper
that pulled the Bulls ahead 103-101. He also scored the
winning basket with 50 seconds remaining hitting a
18-foot jumper with the assist by Ben Gordon.
"I don't know if we run that stuff for him. But I'm a firm believer
in confidence,” said Coach Del Negro “When Tyrus doesn't hesitate
and gets in his comfort zone, he can make those shots. I have a lot
of confidence in Tyrus taking them. Sometimes, he's a little bit off.
But I think he has done a better job of when he's on and off, picking
his spots. He was at the elbow, he came off, hit one, got a little bit
more confidence, hit a couple more, missed the one on the baseline, but
they were all good shots. I'm fine with that."
Joakim Noah
Double-Double – A stellar performance by Noah playing with energy and
intensity but on this day Noah was also consistent grabbing a game
high 11-rebounds and 16-points. In addition the Rose to Noah Alley-opp
show became part of Chicago’s open court arsenal with Noah getting
slam-dunks
in each half.
Ben Gordon
Although not Gordon best shooting night, Gordon found a
way to be ready when he was needed down the stretch shooting
6-17 from the field but contributed 20-points.
When asked by CSN: What allowed you to be so efficient on offense
and play so well in the clutch? Gordon answered “It’s just my focus
you know early in the game I didn’t have it going. In the 3rd quarter
I didn’t have it going but the whole time I stayed in the game mentally
knowing I was going to have a chance to get my team going with some key
plays.”
NBA
Champion Paul Pierce Scored 22-Points In Game #1
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
photo by Mark Rotor (File Photo)
Game #2 Rematch at the Boston Garden - The Adjustments
I'm sure that fans in Boston and in Chicago were on the edge of their
seats watching Saturday's Game #1 with the intensity as if it was a
heavy
weight boxing championship with so much riding on each swing or
possession.
Monday night’s rematch will likely look quite different from game
#1 with each team poised to make strategic adjustments to hold down
the other teams scores while creating their own scoring opportunities.
With Ray Allen’s 1-12 (4-points) and John Salmons 6-16 (12-point)
it's expected that both teams will need to make changes to improve
their
chance of winning Monday's contest.
“We’ve got to be ready for the adjustments that they will make
and we got to come out here and play with the same attitude,” said
Ben Gordon “And stick with it even if things aren’t going our way and
you know we may be able to get another one.”
"I hope this is a wake-up call, I hope we realize that the Bulls,
they're not just a team that's happy to be in the playoffs. So
hopefully
the guys will wake up and realize this is reality. We've better come to
play.” said Paul Pierce.
Bulls Playoff Schedule 2009: 1st Round VS. Boston Celtics
Game# Date Location Time (Central) Television | Radio
1. Saturday, 4/18 Boston 11:30 a.m. CSN/ESPN | ESPN 1000
2. Monday, 4/20 Boston 6:00 p.m. CSN/TNT | ESPN 1000
3. Thursday, 4/23 Chicago 7:00 p.m. CSN/TNT | ESPN 1000
4. Sunday, 4/26 Chicago 12:00 p.m. ABC | ESPN 1000
5* Tuesday, 4/28 Boston TBD CSN | ESPN 1000
6* Thursday, 4/30 Chicago TBD CSN | ESPN 1000
7* Saturday, 5/2 Boston TBD CSN/TNT | ESPN 1000
* If Needed
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