5 Reasons Why Derrick Rose’s Game-Winning Buzzer-Beater Was Beautiful

Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) gets ready to make a free thrown in the second quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It is for games like Friday night’s that we watch basketball. We hold on for years rooting for a team or player, and then we (sometimes) get to see their career get redeemed. Derrick Rose had his moment last night. Even if his game-winning jumper just becomes another footnote in his injury-riddled history, Rose earned this after years upon years of rehabilitation.

“It’s very well deserved,” Joakim Noah said to USA TODAY Sports after the 99-96 win. “Derrick’s gone through so much over the last couple of years, so much adversity and so much pain not being able to play basketball. He’s somebody who has a lot of confidence in himself, more than anybody I’ve ever been around. I know he’s special. I just feel great right now that he hit a huge shot for us.”

The former MVP may not have been the most talented player on the floor Friday night; however, he came up at the biggest moment. You could see the joy on his teammates’ faces as they mugged him after the shot, and Noah in particular looked pleased as he picked up his PG from behind. Chicagoans have not seen a player hit a buzzer-beater like this since the days of Michael Jordan, and that can’t be understated. It has been great seeing Scottie Pippen at most of these games, because it gives those two eras of Chicago basketball a connecting point.

Have we seen the last buzzer-beater of this series? I don’t think so. There are too many talented players involved. Now, the next one might come from the Cleveland Cavaliers, because LeBron James always plays his best when his back is to the wall. I think we will see him hit a game-winner before this series is over, and it will likely come in either Game 4 or Game 5 as he wills the Cavs to a late victory.

But here is why Rose’s shot was a thing of beauty.

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