Sure, there were several other key contributors. Jimmy Butler led everybody with 25 points, Aaron Brooks provided some energy off the bench to score 13, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson grabbed 11 rebounds each and Pau Gasol had yet another double-double (10 and 13). It was the sign of a team well-balanced, at least for one night. But Rose was the story of the game.
He left the first quarter after only five minutes without explanation. That led some, including me, to wonder if something had gone awry. He wasn't receiving medical treatment, so I was really hoping he wasn't taking himself out for precautionary reasons. Doing this so early in the playoffs would have been one heck of an unneeded storyline.
But he soon returned and proved he was simply a tiger waiting to catch his prey. He took smart shots, played well on defense and drove to the basket more than he did in most games during the regular season. This was the Rose everyone wanted to see. And he earned "M-V-P" chance as a result, even if the United Center crowd was stretching the truth for the purpose of the moment.
This is the time of year Rose has been training for since his initial major injury. That long 82-game schedule was a long mountain to climb, but he finally made it. Although he had that snag with his meniscus in late February that threatened yet another season, he was able to overcome it. It helped that this injury wasn't as serious as the other two.
He recognizes history remembers the winners and there is no greater time for that to happen than in the playoffs. Maybe this is the legacy he's choosing to write for himself. We don't know how healthy he'll stay in the future. Even if his injury struggles continue, it'll all be forgotten if he peaks in the spring every year.
We would love to see this Rose in action consistently from late October until the middle of April. It would do a lot to dispel many of the negative notions about him. But nothing really matters until the field is cut to 16. If the dominant Rose only shows up in the playoffs for the rest of his career, he might not get into the Hall of Fame, but we'll at least be able to say he knew when it was time to shine.
Before you have any doubts on Rose's heart and desire, perhaps you should read the following message he left on his Facebook page early Sunday:
"Felt good last night, felt normal. I’m grateful to be playing with the teammates I have right now; they allow me to play the way I normally play. It’s an honor. I’m really fortunate because I think anywhere else it wouldn’t be the same. They’re giving me motivation, pushing me and it feels good."
This is the Rose we've come to know, although it's been easy to forget he's existed. Through all the turmoil, communication problems and people in his camp opening their mouths, he has never wavered in his persona as that humble kid from Englewood. Hopefully, these past three years have taught him to be even more humble. We can dispute that all we want, but let's save that discussion for another day.
Right now, let's feel good the Bulls have a 1-0 lead on the Bucks. They'll try to double that in Game 2 on Monday. Meanwhile, Rose will try to take command once more, which would continue to rebuild his reputation as a good player when the stakes are high. When he plays well, the Bulls typically win, and we can't ask for much more as fans.
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