DRose Saves the Day, Carries the Bulls to Game 1 Victory Over First Round Playoff Opponent Pacers

CHICAGO, IL. If 82 games has not proven to everyone that Derrick Rose is the NBA's Most Valuable Player and the best basketball player in the universe, then certainly, the performance Rose put on in Game 1 of the Chicago Bulls first round series against the Indiana Pacers is all the proof anyone could need.

In the opening round, DRose proved to the Pacers and the world who the NBA Most Valuable Player is by carrying his Bulls to the Game 1 win.

The Indiana Pacers won their last meeting with the Chicago Bulls, and they came into their first round playoff series with the Bulls saying that they would rather face the Bulls than the Celtics or the Heat.

Danny Granger reiterated the Pacer's "preference" despite the line Derrick Rose put up in the Bulls recent loss to the Pacers: 42 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, including a stretch closing out the game where he almost single-handedly brought the Bulls back from a 16 point 4th quarter deficit to force overtime. The fortunate Pacers held on to win the game in overtime after Rose fouled out early in the extra period.

Well, the Bulls were not going to be disrespected by their 8th seeded opponents and division rivals, and several Bulls took exception to the Pacers' words. They simply said, we'll find out who's right when we play them.

Game 1 finally arrived, as the Bulls and their first round opponents were featured in the opening game of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. And it would be another game to be added to the legend of Derrick Rose.

The Indiana Pacers came into the game with a chip on the shoulder and knowing that they had the matchups to be able to win against the Bulls, but the question was, could they contain DRose enough to take 4 out of seven games and take the series?

The Pacers came into the United Center and played with energy. They were able to gain an early advantage and had the Bulls trailing for much of the game.

The Bulls could not seem to exert their defensive will on the Pacers with any effectiveness for much of the game, and during the 3rd quarter, the Pacers' lead ballooned to 10 points, and the quarter ended with the Bulls trailing by 8.

The Bulls began to chip away at the Pacers lead to start the 4th quarter, and finally, on two free throws by Derrick Rose, the Bulls had slashed the deficit to only 3 points halfway through the quarter.

The two teams traded baskets until the Pacers, behind Tyler Hansbrough, who made two big baskets followed by a huge three-point play, had pushed the lead back up to 10 points with a mere 3:28 left in the contest.

It is now undeniable; DRose is a bonafide top 5 player in the league, and he is the most worthy of the NBA MVP Award.

It looked for a moment as if these inexperienced Bulls would start off the 2011 NBA Playoffs with a loss, but DRose had other plans and was not about to let that happen. Rose had been attacking the basket all game long, and in Jordan-time, he stayed aggressive.

With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Derrick Rose made a layup and was fouled. The three-point play put the Bulls within 2. The Bulls defense finally made its appearance, and the on the next play, DRose scored on a turn around shot with 1:36 left to tie the score at 99 - 99.

The Bulls defense once again stood firm, and on the rebound, DRose once again took command. He drove and watched the Pacers' defense collapse on him, so he kicked the ball out to Kyle Korver, who got a wide open look at a three-point shot, and calmly buried it to give the Bulls their first lead since 2 minutes into the first quarter of the game.

And that would be all the lead the Bulls would need, as the defense stifled the Pacers, keeping them at 99, until the final buzzer sounded to seal the 104 - 99 victory for Chicago.

Here are the highlights from the INDIANA PACERS at the CHICAGO BULLS, 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS, GAME 1:


Derrick Rose had a final line for the game of: 39 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks.