Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah spoke recently about Rose’s iconic game-winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2015 NBA playoffs. Rose noted that his game-winner, and subsequent celebration, was a moment where time stood still. He joked that LeBron James took note of that shot and celebration, and hit a game-winner the following game.
Derrick Rose: “You know when I look back at this, the time when I turned into your arms; that was crazy. It was like that, ‘Stop playing’… It’s close, he knew it too. He knew it. He came back the next game and hit another one. Hit right, back-to-back.”
Joakim Noah: “That moment for me really represents who [Rose] is. The crowd is going crazy, everybody is excited around him. He’s the only one who is just stoic. Probably one of the biggest shots in Bulls history. Just to be able to be calm and collected like that in that moment, not only hitting a crazy shot but keeping your composure. I would have not been like that.”
Derrick Rose hit a massive game-winner in Game 3 of the second-round series between the Bulls and Cavaliers. Both games were tied 1-1 before the shot, and the Bulls took a surprising 2-1 lead over the Cavaliers with his incredible shot.
On this day in 2015… the bank was open for Derrick Rose as he hit an ICONIC buzzer-beating game-winner in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semis! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/44Fklx6cKL
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 8, 2022
Rose capped off a strong game against the Cavaliers in Game 3, with 30 points (10-26 FG), seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block. Not to take this heartbreaking loss lightly, LeBron James came back in Game 4 in the United Center and hit a dagger of his own to tie up the series 2-2.
It came after a sequence where the Bulls took advantage of terrible officiating against James, as Rose helped them tie the game with eight seconds left. In return, James hit one of the most clutch shots of his career to win the game with mere seconds on the clock.
(2015 ECSF GM4) This sequence was wild!
Late 4th QT refs did everything they could to steal this one away from the Cavs. LeBron wasn't having it. He goes on to tie Jordan (in the HOUSE that MJ built) for most Buzzer Beaters in postseason history. 😤#WITNESS pic.twitter.com/vF90c58dzy
— LeBron Factory (@LeBronFactory) April 10, 2020
James, much like Rose, capped off a strong performance with his game-winner in Game 4, putting up 25 points (10-30 FG), 14 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block.
After the Game 4 win, with the series tied 2-2, the Cavaliers sealed the series with two wins both at home and away to close the series 4-2 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. They would sweep the Hawks 4-0, only to lose to the Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the 2015 NBA Finals.
One can argue that aside from the Warriors, who had the advantage of playing against a weak Cavaliers team hurt with injuries, Rose and the Bulls gave the Cavaliers, who were at full strength, their toughest challenge throughout the NBA playoffs, even more so than the Warriors.
Throughout the series, both Rose and James played very well. Rose averaged 21.7 points, 6.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. Whereas LeBron James nearly averaged a triple-double with 26.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
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