It wasn't pretty but the ending was unforgettable. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-96 in Game 3 of their best of seven series to take a 2-1 series lead. The winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series over 80 percent of the time.
It was an ugly, back and forth affair with 19 lead changes and 17 ties. J.R. Smith hits a dramatic 3-pointer to tie the game. There are three seconds left. And...
1. SPORTS: Derrick Rose hits the winning shot. It's a running, turnaround, bank shot -- which I do not believe he called-- off what is a questionable screen. You can call it lucky, especially if you're a Cavs fan in need of rationalizing away that pain. But Rose worked to put himself in the possession to get the shot off, and put the arc on it to give it a chance. Sometimes that's all you can really do.
The NBA, more than any other sport, is about rooting for personalities. It's more player-based than any other sport because of the impact of individuals, the stylistic differences, the very fabric of the game. And in that respect, the stories of games are the stories of teams are the stories of players. Derrick Rose's story, from the city's streets to the No.1 pick to the MVP to the fall of injury, to the brutal and constant setbacks, to his return and to this moment, hitting The Shot in front of his home town in the most crucial game of the series is what sports are all about.
The Bulls didn't play great in this game, neither did the Cavs, but they battled one another to a standstill for 47 minutes and 57 seconds.
Derrick Rose did the rest.
2. HOW MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG AT ONCE: The Cavs, without Kevin Love, saw Kyrie Irving suffer an ankle injury. After the game, David Blatt said that Irving has been "playing hurt" which he oddly did not say after Game 2. Irving really struggled after the ankle tweak, however, and finished with zero assists for the first time since December, when LeBron James told him to never do it again. Hard to see James holding this one against him, but it's still a big reason the Cavaliers lost.
They also just didn't play well, to a man. Jimmy Butler played an absolutely heroic game defensively vs. LeBron James, forcing him into 8-of-25 shooting and seven turnovers. If Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are going to have bad games, the Cavs' chances of winning are not good. Yet they did have a chance to steal this one, thanks to timely shooting from J.R. Smith (14 points, 4-of-8 from 3-point range), tough play from Tristan Thompson, and some good minutes from Matthew Dellavedova. The Cavaliers will kick themselves over this one. They lost on an impossible shot, but they allowed it to come to that due to their own mistakes.
3. LET'S JUST LOOK AROUND: Some more reactions from Rose's shot. First, the shot:
Ok sorry better quality here. Bulls Win Bulls Win pic.twitter.com/kydvxUC8oy
— Bill Wennington (@34billy42) May 9, 2015Some reactions from Getty and USA Today Sports Images...
First, take a look at Thibs, who looks like he's wondering when the deli counter is going to serve up his chicken shwarma.
Because of the angle of this photo, it looks like Aaron Brooks is celebrating with ghosts. Also, Kirk Hinrich raising his hand as if he knew the whole time. Derrick's vacant expression is very Derrick.
See? Also, that's a #stankface, there, Taj.
Take a look at the Bulls' reactions to the shot. Specifically, 1. Nikola Mirotic losing his mind, 2. Mike Dunleavy racing into a full sprint after the make and 3. Jimmy Butler's awesome, understated fist pump:
How close was that play?
Here's the shot from behind the play on the Wennington video:
And here's a shot from the front via Getty Images, of Thompson's contest of the shot. Wow:
That's the difference in winning and losing, right there.
