Bulls’ Derrick Rose ‘Fine’ with Benching
Derrick Rose, who was 1 for 13 from the field for a career-low two points, said he had no issue with being benched late in the Chicago Bulls’ 96-86 overtime win over the Miami Heat on Thursday.
“I’m fine, man,” Rose said of coach Tom Thibodeau’s decision to sit him down the stretch. “Anything to win. Where he felt that lineup was going to win the game, it won the game, and I can’t complain about anything.”
Thibodeau decided to ride the hot hand of Rose’s backup, C.J. Watson, down the stretch. Watson scored 16 points along with nine assists and hit a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Thibodeau admitted it was a little strange benching the reigning MVP.
“It’s a great question,” Thibodeau said. “Big picture, in terms of, if this were his first or second year, maybe you would be more concerned with that. But where Derrick is now as a player, he knows, he understands the situation. He’s coming off an injury, he’s a very confident guy. He’ll get up to speed very quickly. The thing that you love about him, he was so happy we won, and so happy for his teammates, and that’s who Derrick is.”
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