Reuters/PhotoChristian Post Report – Ever since the start of the season, the Chicago Bulls were considered favorites to win the Eastern Conference title. However, it has been a rocky ride for the Bulls, who have alternately missed their key players throughout the season.
Five key players for Chicago have missed more than 10 games each, resulting in an up and down journey in the Eastern Conference standings.
However, just before the NBA Playoffs kick off, the last injured Bulls player has finally returned, and it’s none other than Derrick Rose.
Rose was sidelined for about two months after another knee injury, where he underwent another surgery late in January. In his return, the 26-year-old point guard immediately showed flashes of his former MVP self, registering points and assists.
In the Bulls game against the Sixers, D-Rose drove to the basket at will, dished to his teammates, and limited his turnovers. He finished with 26 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in only 28 minutes of action.
In Chicago’s match against the Nets, Rose registered 13 points and 7 dimes in only 23 minutes of action.
To complement his performance, the entire Bulls squad was impressive. Jimmy Butler shot 7-out-of-10 from the field for 17 points, while Pau Gasol had another double-double of 22 points and 11 boards.
Nikola Mirotic continued his high level of play, finishing with 26 points, including six three-pointers that broke the game wide open in the third.
It was a total team effort for the Bulls, who had 26 assists as a team, while Brooklyn had a measly 12.
Having secured home court advantage in the first round, the Bulls could face the Wizards for the second playoffs in a row. Washington ousted Chicago in the first round in last year’s playoffs.
Source : Christian Post