Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Derrick Rose Pulls an MJ Almost 26 Years to the Day

By Michael Whitlow

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Twice during the Chicago Bulls’ run to six titles in an eight-year span, Michael Jordan delivered two series-winning daggers to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in series. On Friday night in a pivotal Game 3 for this year’s Bulls, Derrick Rose pull a play from Jordan’s playbook.

If you’re a Bulls fan, or a depressed Cavalier fan for that matter, you’ve seen this shot at least 15,000 times.

Michael Jordan‘s free throw line jumper ended the game and the series between the Bulls and Cavs in the 1989 NBA Playoffs. The series win was the first since the Bulls drafted Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft. The sense of relief was there for everyone related to the Bulls, including the man who hit “The Shot” himself.

Fast-forward four seasons and two NBA Championships later, Jordan had established himself as the best basketball player on the planet.

And once again, he ripped the hearts out of Cleveland fans everywhere with another series-clinching shot.

Move ahead 22 years, and Derrick Rose followed in the game’s greatest player’s footsteps on Friday night for the Bulls against Cleveland.

Rose’s heroic banked triple at the gun gave the Bulls a 99-96 victory and a 2-1 series lead over the Cavs. For the first time in now four series against a LeBron James-led team, the Bulls have taken two games in the series.

Rose finished his clutch night with 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, including, “The Shot”.

Despite the Bulls not being able to run the designed play on their final possession, Rose took matters into his own hands and delivered one of the biggest shots of his young career.

"“I was supposed to get the ball in the corner, I said, ‘Forget it’, and ran towards the ball. They gave me an opportunity to get the shot off, and I just gotta thank my teammates, man. They give me so much energy. They give me so much confidence. They give me the ball when I need it. They live with me and my mistakes. I’m fortunate.”-Derrick Rose in his post-game interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters"

Rose’s game-winning trey sent “The Madhouse on Madison” into a frenzy, and also broke the NBA side of Twitter on Friday.

Never change, Twitter.

Even ESPN’s SportsNation got in on the nostalgia with this tweet:

YouTube user NBATODAY24 shut it down with this awesome video of Jordan’s winner in 1989 and Rose’s winner on Friday night:

Rose’s game-winner was also the first for the Bulls since MJ iced Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals with a jumper against the Utah Jazz.

Now, with the Bulls in the driver’s seat and a 2-1 series lead, Game 4 is make-or-break for both teams.

If Cleveland wins, they’ll head home all squared at 2-2 with momentum for Game 5. If the Bulls can go 2-0 on their home floor, they’ll take a commanding 3-1 series lead and sit one game away from ridding themselves of their playoff nightmares against LeBron’s teams since 2010.

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Next: Derrick Rose drops a stunning buzzer to give the Bulls a Game 3 win

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