Rose takes blame for loss after faltering in clutch
DALLAS — Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose says he deserves the blame for Saturday night’s 118-11 loss to the Dallas Mavericks after making several critical mistakes late in the game.
What bothered Rose most was a play with just under a minute to play in regulation with the Bulls trailing 110-108.
Rose was trying to run a high pick and roll with veteran Pau Gasol but jumped in the air to pass and turned the ball over. The Mavericks raced down the floor to score an easy basket, adding to a lead they would not relinquish.
“I think I lost this game with that turnover,” Rose said. “We were down two. Such a critical part in the game and I feel bad. I feel bad. I feel like I lost this game for the team.”
Rose, who had arguably his best game of the season scoring 25 points while going 12-for-20 from the field, believes he will learn from this mistake.
“(The defender) jumped at the right time,” Rose said. “If anything, it’s a learning experience. When I come off [the screen] and the game is close like that, late in the game like that, it’s got to be a better pass.”
Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said Rose made the right read on the play, he just didn’t execute properly.
“Derrick, he made the right read,” Hoiberg said. “Pau popped, he was open at the free throw line. We just didn’t complete the play. Derrick I thought was terrific in the high screen and roll all game long. Unfortunately, that late one was a tough play. But Derrick, he tried to make the right play.”
Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler disagreed with the notion that Rose should take responsibility for the game.
“If anybody, it’s on me,” Butler said. “Five turnovers, didn’t make no shots, that’s not my role. I didn’t do my job. He did his to tell you the truth. He did his. It’s definitely not on him I can tell you that much.”
Bulls power forward Taj Gibson agreed with Butler that Rose shouldn’t take the blame.
“We don’t really point fingers,” Gibson said. “Everybody is accountable, we all could have did something, or could have did one or two things better that would have helped us win the game. That’s what leaders do, take [blame] for tough games, but we’re a family. We just came up short.”
Rose was also frustrated that he was whistled for a five second violation with 11.7 seconds left in regulation and the Bulls trailing 114-111.
“[The ref] said it was five [seconds],” Rose said. “I think I let it go right when he said ‘four.’ But it was his call, it’s nothing I can do about a referee making a call.”
Despite the errors down the stretch, the Bulls are hopeful that Rose can continue stringing together good games after a rocky first two months of the season. For his part, Rose brushed aside the idea that he was playing like his old, high-level self.
“I can’t even think about that,” Rose said. “I’m more mad that we lost and more mad that I was the reason. [I’m] just trying to replay everything in the back of my mind. When I look at film I’ll be able to tell a little bit more what they were doing, but with that turnover I think that’s the reason why we lost.”
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