DRose Closes Out The Grizzlies In Jordan-Time, Pushes Chicago's Lead For Top Seed In East To Two Games Over Boston

CHICAGO, IL. In a previous era when the Chicago Bulls were perennial NBA champions, the end of the 4th quarter in a close game used to be called Jordan-Time.

The Chicago Bulls' Hall of Famer would take over the game, while it still hung in the balance, and would lead his team to victory. Jordan did this so many times that he is still the all-time most clutch player, and as far as the concept of being a clutch player, Jordan is still THE personification of the concept.

It is now the 20th anniersary year of the Chicago Bulls first championship team led by Jordan, and the Bulls have experienced a Renaissance, a rebirth. Some might suggest that some cloning has been involved.

This year has seen the emergence of Derrick Rose as the leader and clutch player that the Bulls have needed since Jordan's second retirement from the Chicago Bulls, so much so, the basketball world has been abuzz with the prediction that Derrick Rose is the NBA MVP for several weeks now.

But even with all the focus on him, Rose has yet to give anyone pause. He seems to have only gotten better, gotten more determined, gotten more unstoppable. He has had double digit scoring quarter in several recent games to spark the Bulls, including a 19 point 4th quarter outburst to force overtime at Indiana.

With the focus on him, DRose has only gotten more determined, and more unstoppable.

Tonight, Rose proved that he is a Jordan-time player. With the Grizzlies leading in the final minutes, Rose scored the last 6 points of the game for the Bulls to propel them to a narrow 99 - 96 win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

With 2:18 left in the game, Rose made two free throws to give Chicago the lead. On a subsequent play, he drove past Tony Allen and made a ridiculous shot over Marc Gasol to give the Bulls a 97 - 93 advantage.

When the lights have shone brighter, Rose has proven that he is capable of stepping into the biggest shoes in Chicago, Michael Jordan's. 

The United Center crowd echoed with chants of "MVP!" while Rose completed the tough three-point play at the free throw line.

Rose finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on the night for Chicago against a team that Skip Bayless recently expressed might be a potential stumbling block for Rose and the Bulls. DRose made the Grizzlies seem like a non-problem.

The win not only gave Chicago their 14th straight home victory, but combined with Boston's narrow loss tonight, helped to stretch DRose and the Bulls' lead for first place in the Eastern Conference to 2 games. Every game is essential in the tight race, and even a 2 game lead may be insurmountable given the easier schedule that the Bulls enjoy over chasers, Boston and Miami.

With their recent rise to the top of the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have gotten the attention of the rest of the NBA. Now, they must earn their respect.

This was another thing Michael Jordan had, the respect of other teams and his fellow players. After the game, Rose had earned another MVP endorsment; the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph simply said of Rose, "MVP. He's my MVP." (To see all of Derrick Rose's MVP endorsements, check out the "MVP" Tab)