Eastern Conference wide open after Derrick Rose`s injury: Miami Heat juggernaut even more difficult to stop now.......
Chicago Bulls convincingly won their first matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, with a score of 103-91. However the title ambitions for the Bulls suffered a major setback when their All-Star guard, Derrick Rose suffered a torn
ACL in the final 80 seconds of the game.
Even though the Bulls achieved the best record in the league, playing most of the regular season without Rose but this injury is cause of huge concern because the Playoffs are a completely different ball game.
Rose had missed 27 games in the season with a variety of injuries to his left toe, groin, right ankle and lower back; however this recent torn anterior cruciate ligament has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Many who
considered the Bulls to be the only team standing between a trip to the Finals and the Miami Heat will be now thinking about reconsidering their statements as this recent setback for Chicago depicts the entire Eastern Conference as an easy road for the Heat.
Heat got off and running in their pursuit of a return trip to the Finals for the second year running in splendid fashion, crushing the New York Knicks with a huge difference of 33 points. LeBron James being the key contributor
in that game with 32 points made sure that his team got off to a good start in the post season. Dwyane Wade also had a fair say in the matchup with 19 points and his put back dunk at the start of the contest set the tone up for the rest of the game.
It is not like the Knicks are a bad team; it was the way Heat played on the night. They were cohesive, they were meaningful with their possessions and had the aggression required to such a big series of the playoffs.
However the Heat players are not concerned with all the other things which may or might not work in their favour and are only focusing on their game 2 with the Knicks. Head Coach, Eric Spoelstra is expected to prepare his team
in a similar way, he approached the first game. Even star player Dwyane Wade contemplated on the matter that you have to take it one game at a time in the post season.
"In the playoffs, each game is its own," guard Dwyane Wade said. "You can never feel too good about anything. So we've got to come in with the same approach to the game, the same mind-set."
But there is no denying the fact that with Rose out for the remaining part of post season, it has left a door wide open for LeBron and company to continue their pursuit of the all elusive Championship.
It is not only the Heat who have now gotten a better chance but many other teams in the Eastern Conference are likely to favour their chances of at least making it to the Conference Finals and then look at the daunting task of
facing the Heat.
The team that would be looking to make the most of this would be the Bulls current playoffs opponents, Philadelphia 76ers, who despite losing the opener will be looking to turn things around in their favour.
The second team which will be considering their favourable chance are the Boston Celtics. But with verdict yet to come after Rajon Rondo got ejected in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks last night and Ray Allen most probably out for
the whole duration, they still have to deal with the matter on hands first.
For the Bulls it has been a tough season so far and they might still have a say, but with Rose out their chances do look a lot dimmer.
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