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

May 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) walks off the court after a 99-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Rose Outplayed LeBron

LeBron James finished Game 3 with 27 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds. You would think at first glance that he was the best player in the game, but you would be wrong. James was inefficient (8-for-25 from the field) on Friday and turned the ball over seven times. That is not a great showing, but he deserves a little bit of a pass since Irving was not quite himself. Rose, on the other hand, brought it from the opening tip. He obviously came through when it mattered most.

“They just made one more play than us,” James said. “We played as hard as we could tonight to get a win. That’s all you can ask.”

It is a shame that the Cavs are dealing with so many injuries, because this series could have been one of the all-time great playoff matchups. It still has a chance to get there, but Kevin Love and Irving at full strength would have given Cleveland a real shot at getting to the Eastern Conference Finals. As it stands, the Bulls now look like the favorites to win this series, and they should come out focused on the task at hand in Game 4. Rose will not be afraid of taking another shot at the King and his court, and that is the most amazing thing to me after all of his years of rehab. Go get ’em Derrick.

Next: Positional Preview of Bulls vs. Cavs Series

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