Just Gotta Bull Through

            When Derrick Rose tore his ACL, it wasn’t just his teammates that deflated, the whole City did. The hometown hero, Chicago’s warrior, was not coming back from this one and we all knew it. Hours and days after the injury, fans were angry at Tom Thibodeau for keeping Rose in, others understood that Derrick needed to work on playing a whole game and closing the old Derrick Rose way but if there was anything this City and the Bulls learned from this season, it was we could do it with or without Rose.

            Either way, this is different because unlike the 26 games Rose missed in the regular season, he isn’t coming back after a few games of rest. The Bulls learned that lesson after the schooling Philadelphia gave them in Game 2 on Tuesday however; Game 2 wasn’t a sign that Chicago needs Derrick to win playoff games. Game 2 was a sign that the Bulls need the Bulls to win playoff games not a disjointed and emotional team. The series isn’t over; our Championship dreams are not over. All that needs to happen is the remaining players HAVE to bring 115% to the court everyday and as exhausting as that sounds it is not like they haven’t been given that challenge before this season.

I’m confident that the Bulls have already shaken off the trauma that was losing Rose for the rest of the post-season and that they have realized how much love and support their fans continue to give them night in and night out. Scottie Pippen’s letter and all of the YouTube videos are evidence of such support. We are not giving up on them and I know they won’t give up on us just because one player is down. I know it’s Derrick Rose the “Windy City Assassin”, but unlike another team in the NBA that will remain nameless, the Chicago Bulls’ talent lies in more than just one player or even three players, our whole team is talented and capable of winning. They are proven while other teams have proven that their formula for success lies within three players and nothing more. Sure that team is good but when they lose one of their superstars for the season, I guarantee that they are going to be an average team and not Championship contenders. Chicago loves their TEAM while that other city love those players.

           One of the greatest things about the City of Chicago is that no matter how bad a situation may seem; there is never a lessening of support. We love our teams, we love our City and that doesn’t change just because all hope appears to be lost. The Bulls will come out of this and be in the second round, I still expect them to be in the Finals and give Miami a run for their money. As hard as losing Derrick Rose was, it doesn’t change the vision the Bulls have and it won’t change our support for them.