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Video: Derrick Rose with game-winning dagger against Bucks

Derrick Rose

Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose reacts after his game-winning shot against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Milwaukee. Rose drilled a long jumper at the buzzer, powering the Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the Bucks. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

AP

How do you stop that?

What you see above is Derrick Rose with the wicked crossover on Brandon Jennings to create space then the step-back jumper to give Chicago a 106-104 win. The Bucks decided not to trap Rose and make him pass the ball — make any other Bull beat them but the reigning MVP — and they paid the price.

That is the voice of Stacy King providing the slightly over the top reaction. Okay, maybe not slightly. But you can bet he was screaming incoherently for a lot of other Bulls fans doing the same thing after that shot.

There has been a lot of talk about whether a team needs a “closer” at the end of games and whether teams use too much isolation with their star players on final possessions rather than running sets that get a good look. I agree, I think there is too many iso sets. I think a play design that forces a defense to cover several options is a superior choice. But you see shots like the one above and you realize why coaches do what they do — when you have a Derrick Rose on your team, you trust him to make the decision and take the shot. (The Bucks should have trapped him and made it a tougher decision, but that’s another discussion.) He’s your best player, better to live and die with him then a decision of a lesser player under pressure. And when you see plays like this the logic is hard to argue in certain cases.