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Dan Peters
Sports Editor
Oak Park
Journal
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© Suburban Journals of Chicago
File Photo by Mark Rotor
Rose Spins
And Wins!...In Thrilling Double Overtime Victory 121-119
By
Dan Peters & Mark Rotor
January 15th, 2010
Derrick Rose - The Man With “All The Right Moves”
The Bulls fans were treated to captivating show on Friday at the United
Center as the Wizards were struck down 121-119 in double overtime.
With a grueling eight game road trip on the horizon Chicago made their
last
home game count thanks to the "lights-out" play of Derrick Rose.
It took six periods of play to vanish the Wizards and it certainly
wasn't
easy with 29 ties and 22 lead changes but Rose and company found a way
to prevail.
Rose had all the right “moves” scoring at critical moments
in the game but to him, it’s all just playing basketball. “I’ve
been doing that move since college,” said Rose.
It was a career night for Rose scoring a personal high of 37-points and
in addition,
he hits the game winning shot for the first time in his young career.
With 5.4 seconds remaining in the 2nd overtime tied at 119 all Rose
drove the
lane and reversed pivoted spinning to escape the outstretched hand of
Wizard's
guard Randy Foye. From 8-feet away, Rose lunched a one-handed push shot
ending the
lengthy contest.
Rose
Owned The Lane Scoring 14 of His 37-points In The Paint
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
The "Spin Move"
“If I want to go a certain way and they play me a certain way, I got to
spin and I got a nice little floater. I used to think about what move
I’m going to make or whatever. I’m just letting it come to me right
now.”
That nice little floater was the final dagger in the side of the
Wizards giving Chicago their 4th victory in a row and the Wizards their
fourth loss in five games.
Rose made his shots count shooting 16 of 33 while grabbing 9-rebounds
and
6-assists. Fatigue didn't appear to be issue for the 21 year-old played
50 minutes
in the double O.T on the heels of a Thursday night road victory over in
Boston.
The Wizard's Spin On Rose -
"Big time players make big time plays," said Washington's Center
Brendon Haywood.
"Derrick Rose is young but he's a big time player. Down the stretch
there is nothing you can do when the point guard gets to his spot,
rising up and basically is shooting a jump hook. That's tough, because
he's so big, he so strong, he's so powerful, that when he gets to his
spot. Down the stretch, he's going to hit it."
Del
Negro Rally's The Troops During The Intense O.T.
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Hitting The Winning Shot
Although, Derrick Rose has now played almost a season and a half in the
NBA
he has now hit the first game winning shot of his young career. In
doing so, Rose
has finally made his childhood dreams come true hitting the game ender
in front
his home town crowd.
“Yes it is a relief said Rose. These our the type of games that you
dream about
when you were younger. I’m playing in front of my home crowd and
everybody is
cheering when I get the ball in my hand and when I hit the shot (game
winner)
everybody went crazy.”
When Rose was asked did he feel any pressure to hit a game winner he
replied, “No,
I don't feel pressure to hit a game winning shot. I am the type of
player
that let’s the game come to me. During last season I missed something
like twenty
shots to win a game. It (the shot) tells me now that I have now
progressed."
Wizard's
Foye Fires Over Salmons
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
The Bulls Battle Cry… Attack… Attack… Attack
Rose was ready to go on Friday night and followed the Coach’s
instructions, attack..attack…atack. Del Negro said, “I always want
Derrick to attack, it opens the court up for us.”
Although at times the intensity of the game seemed like the playoff
basketball Vinny Del Negro felt it was just a hard fought game.
“The overtimes may it similar (the Boston Series) but it was a regular
season game that’s quite different. We did come back from a tough road
game (Celtics) and that’s positive.”
So, What Differences, Why the Winning Streak?
Prior to the four game winning streak the Bull lost their
last 3 games to teams with loosing records. So, why are the Bulls
winning now? “It’s practice” said Del Negro. "Practice helps your
timing and because of our low body count (due to injuries) we haven’t
been able to run some things that we now can do. This has been
positive.”
16-Points
For The Wizard's Brendan Haywood
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Wizards Minus Gilbert Arenas
Prior to Friday’s game one question has haunted the Wizards. How will
they manage without their star player Gilbert Arenas? Gilbert Arenas
who
was charged felony gun possession and if convicted, he is facing at
minimum 6
months of jail-time. Antawn Jamison said, “It doesn’t matter what’s
going on
off the court. It just matters what’s going on the basketball court”
After the game Coach Del Negro had kind words for the Wizards. “I
give Washington a lot of credit. They gone through some difficult
things in
the last few weeks but they played extremely hard and Jamison and
Butler
were hard to cover but our guys battled. We were fortunate to make one
more
play then they did and I’m pleased the way we hung in.”
Commendably, the Wizards would not fold matching Chicago basket by
basket
led by Antawn Jamison with 34-points and 12 points combined in the 4th
quarter and
the over-times. Caron Butler had 27-points, center Brendan Haywood
contributed with 16-rebounds and Randy Foye had 20-points.
Joakim
Noah Erased Haywood's Shot As Time Runs Out
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Note A Bulls
In addition to Rose's stellar performance, another double-double was
posted by
Joakim Noah 15-rebounds and 16-points. Noah's defense was ever present
late in
the contest including a block at the end of the final over-time as the
horn sounded
that prevented Haywood from scoring the tying basket. Also, Kirk
Hinrich scored 19-points,
Luol Deng had 19-points and John Salmons contributed 12-points.
"Everybody made plays for us", said Del Negro. "Luol, Kirk and Noah
were solid
for us. Salmons made a couple of nice plays for us. It was a total team
effort for
us and nothing came easy. I'm pleased with the effort and pleased with
the outcome."
Deng's consistent scoring continued as Deng has averaged at least
18-points
in his last 10 games. Deng's 19-points and aggressive play was one of
the major reasons
Chicago rallied early in the 4th quarter down by 7-points.
With 14-seconds left in the 1st O.T. Salmons drove the lane forced the
2nd O.T.
Is Confidence Contagious?
Chicago now travels to the west cost returning to the United Center in
two weeks. 8 game and 14-day tour will prove if confidence is
contagious on the road.
"It was a really big win for us", said Deng. "Once you start winning
you just want
to keep it going. Right now we feel good about are selves and we want
to keep rolling."
I say amen to that!
Next Bulls Game:
Bulls Golden State Warriors
Monday January 17th at 3:00PM CT Game Time
Radio - ESPN AM 1000
TV - WGN
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
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