Friday, April 8th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  215 responses

Derrick Rose on Celtics: ‘We Know We Can Beat Them’


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Despite the gnashing of teeth from the folks who pray at the altar of advanced statistics — the ones trying to convince the world that Dwight Howard is the NBA’s most valuable commodity — the Chicago Bulls’ decisive victory over the Boston Celtics last night, in front of a national TV audience, cemented Derrick Rose as the 2010-’11 MVP.

Rose was his usual spectacular self, scoring 30 points and dishing out 8 assists (while his defense helped turn Rajon Rondo into a non-factor for much of the night.)

Derrick then once again displayed something that can’t be measured through numbers, which coupled with the Bulls’ stifling defense, has turned Chicago into a title contender — a galvanizing, unwaivering belief that the Bulls can beat anyone come Playoff time.

Yes, that includes Boston, a possible Eastern Conference Finals opponent. Yahoo! has the quotes:

Within the Bulls’ locker room, they will privately tell you: The belief changed when the Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Teammates remembered Rose’s vibe transforming the room, resonating with everyone. They have such great respect for the Celtics and learned so much from losing to them in the playoffs two years ago. The Bulls suspected they had completely closed the gap on Boston, but word of the Perkins trade ran through the room like a live wire on Feb. 24. The Bulls beat Miami that night and they’ve run off 20 of 23 games since the Celtics made the move.

With Perkins gone, everything changed for the Celtics and they knew it: the toughness, the tenacity, the presence in the post. “He was tough,” Rose said. “We could defend on someone that was big. He was really tough to go around. … They’re different.” Different doesn’t mean better. It means diminished. The Bulls beat the Celtics 44-22 in the paint, beat them badly on the boards, too. They assailed the Celtics the way the Celtics used to assail everyone else. “We know we can beat them,” Rose flatly said.

The surging Bulls are on the verge of locking up the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while Boston looks and sounds like a team unsure of itself (unsure of what the very near future holds.)

The postseason is of course an entirely different animal from these regular season battles, and we all know not to count out the Celtics, but it’s become increasingly clear: in the East, all roads to the NBA Finals go through the Windy City.

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  • HAMMER

    @takashi. The Tigers of the North, in my opinion r the best grupo Norteno. Ever. Followed by Los Cardenales de Nuevo Leon

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    datkid seems to be the smartest commenter of the new group of characters that have been coming around here.

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk

    cosign

  • bull22

    @datkid, look at the past highlights or games that you have seen all season.. one guy does not win 58 games by himself, he is the engine, but he has some good pistons that work with him.. either way the bulls are no where near finished, they have to work hard to get to where they desire to be.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    @Eboy – I personally don’t know about half the sh*t I’m referencing. Power of Google, yo.
    @HAMMER and Takashi – Personally, I prefer Mariachi and Banda over Nortenos.
    Banda El Recodo with Julio Preciado was dope as hell.
    @datkid – Ain’t nothing new about me being a Bulls fan.
    But I can tell you Boozer, Deng and even Gibson or Korver off the bench are all capable of putting up big offensive numbers if need be.
    And they won’t shrink in the playoffs like Mo Gotti used to.

  • JTaylor21

    Faaaaaabolous!!!!! You still coming to the “rainbow” coalition meeting later on tonight?
    Don’t forget to wear your sleeveless leather jacket, those tight leather pants with the back cut out, a peaked cap and glitter is a must.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Well, based on his history, maybe Boozer will.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    There it is.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    I have no delusions of grandeur that Chris Bosh will have any “heroic” playoff moments. I’m actually certain Joel Anthony may change a playoff game for the better more than Chrissy will.

  • greg

    the heat with bibby at point is a very dangerous team, he is a proven winner, and experienced. who remembers when he hit the game winner in a road game and make the team leave the arena before the refs could review the shot. he hits big shots and makes good decisions with the ball. heat vs anyone would be an interesting series

  • JTaylor21

    Ha, enigmatic. You win, I done ran out of ammo.
    Wikipedia can only take you so far.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Damn. Just when I was about to mention the Running Man…

  • HAMMER

    Don’t get me started on that banda Matico. That’s my fav mex genre. Bands Machos is my all time fav. Arre Machos! Banda Maguey 2 back n the day. My fav Maguey song was that one that was in “187″, ” Baila Nena”. Dope as hell. Bet u were dancing quebradita 2 weren’t u Matico. Haha!

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ JTaylor you do know what the Rainbow Coalition was, right?

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Also, I don’t see the Bulls making the Finals this year.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Nah.
    I thought Banda Machos and Maguey were wack.
    All that bass, keyboards and synthesizers BS.
    I like the Bandas that only use wind and drum instruments.

  • JTaylor21

    No, it’s not like I used quotation marks when referencing rainbow!!
    I guess reading isn’t in style anymore.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Anyways, I do think Rose is relatively humble.
    I mean, you can’t be TOO humble and be an NBA superstar.
    Can you imagine that?
    “Nah, I’m not gonna sign a max contract cause I don’t deserve one”
    “I don’t think I’m even close to being the best point guard in the NBA. I think Rondo, Paul, Williams, Westbrook, Harris, Boykins, and Blake are all better than me”
    “I think Watson should start over me cause I’m not worthy of starting”
    “Boozer should be our main option”
    “I shouldn’t even be on the same court as these guys. I’m just gonna retire and try to work my way up the corporate ladder, starting right from the very bottom”
    F that.
    I love that Rose is now more assertive and confident.
    Yeah, even cocky on the court.

  • HAMMER

    If u think bout it, the tecnobandas started that quebradita craze. The sinaloenses caught on 2 it afterwards. Like Recodo 4 instance. They, b4 quebradita came on the scene, were just a musical banda. They had no vocalist. And would only play rancheras. I thought that was kinda boring. Once they added Julio Preciado is when they took off. Both types of bandas r dope as hell tho no doubt

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    I stopped listening to Recodo when Preciado left.
    Anyways, I do think Rose is relatively humble.
    I mean, you can’t be TOO humble and be an NBA superstar.
    Can you imagine that?
    “Nah, I’m not gonna sign a max contract cause I don’t deserve one,”
    “I don’t think I’m even close to being the best point guard in the NBA. I think Rondo, Paul, Williams, Westbrook, Harris, Boykins, and Blake are all better than me”
    “I think Watson should start over me cause I’m not worthy of starting”,
    “Boozer should be our main option”
    “I shouldn’t even be on the same court as these guys. I’m just gonna retire and try to work my way up the corporate ladder, starting right from the very bottom”
    F that.
    I love that Rose is now more assertive and confident.
    Yeah, even cocky on the court.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Anyways, I do think Rose is relatively humble.
    I mean, you can’t be TOO humble and be an NBA superstar.
    Can you imagine that?
    “Nah, I’m not gonna sign a max contract cause I don’t deserve one,”
    “I don’t think I’m even close to being the best point guard in the NBA. I think Rondo, Paul, Williams, Westbrook, Harris, Boykins, and Blake are all better than me”
    “I think Watson should start over me cause I’m not worthy of starting”,
    F that.
    I love that Rose is now more assertive and confident.
    Yeah, even cocky on the court.

  • HAMMER

    But ur not the 1st one that has said that bout the tecnobandas. And its a argument that I just don’t get. Yes the sinaloense type bandas r the ones that prevailed. Banda Machos seems 2 b the only tecnobanda still standing. And there not going away. But both types bring something diff 2 the table. That’s how I c it

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Damn comments aren’t posting now…

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    YOU AREN’T IN STYLE ANYMORE!!! =(

  • Lee Rambone

    Anyone else get tired of Eboy’s pathetic rants?

  • thawindy

    What’s so shaky about Rose past?

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    CAPS LOCK KEY IS ALWAYS IN STYLE THO!!!!!!!!

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    He had somebody take his SAT for him so he could go to college. And he got a speeding ticket.
    He must be the devil. LOL

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    I know, right?
    I can’t and won’t fault him for having someone take the SAT for him.
    The right to go pro at what he loves straight out of high school was taken from him.
    If a kid’s good enough to make the leap, why should he have to go to college?
    I didn’t have to go to college to join the military.
    A welder, plumber or mechanic doesn’t have to go to college to do those professions.
    But that’s another debate for another time.

  • JTaylor21

    I GUESS BEING CORNIER THAN NEBRASKA IS BACK IN STYLE!!!!

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Well, I fault him for being unable to qualify. That means he probably wasn’t handling his business throughout his school career, which is not a good look.
    I undertand the unfairness of having to go to college, but he could have taken the Brandon Jennings route if he wanted to. Nobody forced him to go to school.
    But, dude made a mistake. Eboy was reaching when he made it seem like Rose had “character issues.”

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Yeah, I suppose I can see that, Allen.
    There was also the pitchfork flashing incident.
    But that don’t make him Larry Hoover.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I learned allot here today. Don’t have Sponsors=Humble. Eman your a real piece of work.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    Quoute of the Day (QOTD) goes to…Bull22.
    bull22 Posted: Apr.8 at 12:13 pm
    @eboy who is your team? since you have all this time on your hands to bash rose and bulls fans on this thread…… i have not heard one word about how great your team is or who your team…”
    I seriously always thought Eboy was die-hard fan of the Flint Tropics from Semi-Pro!

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    sonfab*tch.
    NOW my comments wanna post…all like 50 of them…

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Oh yeah, the gang sign thing.
    So, gang signs, faked tests and speeding…
    Well that’s not on Iverson’s level, but he’s doing a lot worse than Kevin Durant.
    Lol.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Since when is Nebraska corny?

  • bull22

    @lee rambone, yep because its pure nonsense.
    but that is his turdish way of doing things.
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • JTaylor21

    Umm, why does it matter so much to the fans and media how this guys are off the court?
    I didn’t pay 100+ for LP to watch how Bron interacts with people off the court or how good a guy Rose is off the court, I paid that kind of money to see them perform on the court.
    Also why is it seen as a bad thing for a player to be confident in their abilities?
    I would say race has something to do with but won’t go there, all I’m saying is that there’s nothing wrong with players have supreme confidence in themselves and letting the world known about it.
    How many people can say with a straight face that they wouldn’t act and walk around like they were the sh*t if they were among the 300 best ballers in the world.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    Dwight Howard has to be licking his chops for the Bulls in the 2nd round. The Magic will end the Bulls season. Book it.

  • doyouwantmore

    Humility isn’t not considering yourself the best. Humility is knowing you’re the best at basketball and that makes you no better than the homeless guy you pass on the way to the game.

  • bull22

    @iamorange4ever, the magic maybe a hardout because of his defensive prescence. its a maybe because the rest of this team can’t play defense. but i will give him his respect.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Oh, Orange, please put the pipe down.
    Dwight Howard may very well average 30, 20 and 5 blocks per against the Bulls in the second round.
    But the rest of his team won’t help him much.
    Anyways, speaking of League Pass, is there seriously idiots out there who shell out $50 this late in the season just to watch the last 5 or 6 days of the regular season?

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    The Heat and Celtics are the ONLY two teams in the East that could take out the Bulls in the playoffs.
    Book THAT.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    Enigmatic, the Rose led Bulls getting out of the first round for the very first time, Rose winning MVP, along with Thibs getting COY are all positive steps in the right direction for the Bulls franchise. Don’t let the Magic ending the Bulls season in the 2nd round spoil what a great season the Bulls will have had. Real talk.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    And while we’re thinking positive, maybe your Knicks can finish more than 5 games over .500 next year!

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    did bulls22 just acknowledge a flaw in his favorite team? wow… anyway i think if arenas becomes agent zero or hibachi again the magic could be pretty interesting. remember when he put 60 on the lakers? if not the magic dont look like they’re going anywhere. which they probably arent.

    @eboy and @nbk thanks i appreciate the sentiment.

    @bulls22 i actually agree with what you said to me…regardless if someone shuts down that engine…the bulls stall and drop. literally NOBODY else on the bulls can create or score anywhere near as well. luol deng is ok but no. and in general i still don’t like you.

    @enigmatic-I never said you were new man. I’ve seen your comments here for months and they seem appropriate and well balanced. and again nobody on that team creates as well as rose does…to the point where they basically expect them to win it for them. that’s not a good look come playoff time.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    dammit…this thing wont show spaces..

    @enigmatic-boozer and deng are nice..established players..korver i know less about gibson is nice..but personally i just don’t know. we’ll see soon though

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    I’ll admit, there have been times I’ve seen some of the other Bulls stand around and watch Rose do his thing, like they were the ’05-’06 Lakers watching Kobe, but it’s been a relatively minor deficieny.
    Though the playoffs do have a way of putting those kinds of things under a microscope so like you said, we’ll see.

  • John Hollinger’s Eyebrows

    This is all wrong, Derrick Rose sucks. Dwight Howard should be MVP, only a beast like him could rock shirtless long sleeves on a basketball jersey covered in duct tape

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