Once again, the Bulls weren't at full strength, missing Joakim Noah, once again, as well as, this season's anointed starting shooting guard, Jimmy Butler.
Unfortunately for the Pacers, Derrick Rose did suit up.
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| Derrick Rose had his best showing yet since returning with 32 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists vs. the Pacers. |
Rose was extremely efficient, scoring his 32 points on 9 of 15 shooting, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc.
He showed of his entire arsenal of weapons during the game: his explosiveness to the basket, his coast-to-coast speed, his consistent mid-range jumpshot, and his reliable three-point shot.
And despite being a preseason contest, Rose showed his ability to close out games with 10 points in the final 5:50 of the hotly contested 4th quarter to get the Chicago Bulls the 103-98 win. His ability to close out games was what set him apart from Lebron James in laying his claim to the 2011 NBA MVP, and it seems that Rose is still the closer he was during his first MVP season.
The victory pushed the Chicago Bulls 2013 preseason record to an undefeated 5-0, a result of the established chemistry between the returning core players and the hard work old and new players alike have put into chasing the 2014 NBA Championship.
The victory was not without its casualties as Kirk Hinrich suffered a concussion during the 4th quarter; he will be out indefinitely, leaving the team with a significant void to fill.
While it is too early to know how the Eastern Conference will pan out, from their preseason play so far, who do you feel will be at the top of the Eastern Conference playoff seeding? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
