Rose on game-winner: 'Those are the shots you want to take'; didn't call bank
Rewind. Play it back. It doesn't count. Overtime is needed to determine the winner of Game 3 between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Derrick Rose didn't call bank.
Rose hit an unbelievable game-winning three Friday, lifting the Bulls to a 2-1 series lead and reminding everyone exactly who Rose is and can be.
Ok sorry better quality here. Bulls Win Bulls Win pic.twitter.com/kydvxUC8oy
— Bill Wennington (@34billy42) May 9, 2015
Unfortunately, the shot banked in, and Rose admitted afterward that he didn't call window. To hear the haters and #WellActually army tell it, that makes the highlight somehow less spectacular. But it doesn't. It was incredible. Rose was incredible. The moment was incredible.
"I don't mean to sound cocky," Rose said following the win. "But those are the shots you want to take as a player in my position. I'm just thankful and grateful that my teammates gave me the ball. They believe in me down the stretch.
"No, I did not call glass."
In reality, the bank matters little. Rose hit an otherworldly game-winner at the buzzer to win a playoff game. Given where he's come from - multiple knee surgeries, ankle and hamstring issues, repeated stops and starts to his return to form - and the Bulls' playoff history against LeBron James - this is the first time they've won two games in a series against him in four tries - it makes for an even more incredible highlight.
Noah on Rose: "Derrick’s gone through adversity, so much pain not being able to play. He’s somebody who has a lot of confidence."
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) May 9, 2015
"It's just a tough-ass shot," James said in the locker room afterward.
It was. And it dropped. Off-window, but it dropped. And it was awesome.