After a Rookie of the Year-worthy regular season, Derrick Rose had elevated his performance further during the 2009 playoffs. Even though the Chicago Bulls ended up suffering a first-round series loss against the Boston Celtics, Rose had left everyone in awe with a 36-point playoff debut. While reflecting on that game recently, D-Rose narrated how a missed free throw by Paul Pierce played a crucial part in the Bulls’ victory, along with his big numbers.
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The 2011 NBA MVP’s performance was indeed the highlight in the Illinois side’s 105-103 victory. However, with the Celtics trailing by 1 point, and less than 3 seconds left in regulation, Joakim Noah delivered a hard foul on Pierce. The forward made his first free throw, but missed the second, which forced the game into overtime.
That proved to be a turning point in the game as well as their careers, revealed Rose.
“I realize why Paul Pierce be hating cause he missed that free throw… Him missing that free throw kind of birthed all of our careers,” Rose told Noah in a video on the Bulls’ YouTube channel.
D-Rose also recollected how he had kept his nerves at bay during the game.
“I remember talking to my agent at the time and him telling me to go out and try to play game one as if it was a regular game. Now, looking back at it, it’s like, bro, I don’t know how I was able to be so poised while I was playing during big moments and like, especially late in the game,” said Rose.
The Celtics, however, managed to bounce back and secure the series. But it was not as easy a task as they had imagined it to be. With Kevin Garnett sidelined, the Bulls pushed the series to a thrilling seven games.
Despite suffering a 3-4 series defeat, Rose and co. solidified their status as a rising powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. Though they never captured the Larry O’Brien trophy, Tom Thibodeau’s squad remained a formidable side for years to come.
