NEWSLETTER
Standing in the Foot Locker of a suburban mall, I reached for the D Rose 1s. I know, what a perfect 2010 sentence.
Sure, the shoes weren’t the slightest bit comfortable, my ankle wasn’t the slightest bit secure, and the black and white colorway wasn’t the slightest bit creative. But I wasn’t leaving that store without those sneakers. What kind of Chicagoland teenager would I be if I did?
The Chicago Bulls renaissance was in full effect. Derrick Rose was lifting an organization that had been crawling since the Michael Jordan era back to its feet. The franchise felt like it had a chance to do something special … at least … I think?
If we’re being honest, it’s hard to remember what that sensation actually feels like. The Bulls have been so disappointing for so long that numbness has started to set in. Those sneakers are beat up and long gone, and you can surely say the same about some fans.
I sit here thinking about all of this because today is an anniversary. May 8th represents the date Derrick Rose beat the Cleveland Cavaliers by nailing his iconic back-shot 3-pointer. Whether it be because of Rose’s journey up until that point or the opponent it came against or a combination of both, we immediately knew that shot would go down in Bulls history.
And history it is, indeed!
Rose hit that buzzer-beater in 2015 – aka nine years ago. I know that feels like a long time, but it’s about to feel even longer. This shot happens to mark the LAST HOME PLAYOFF WIN FOR THE CHICAGO BULLS.
I’ll pause if you need a second to vomit.
Chicago went on to lose three straight in that series and stumble out of the playoffs. Rose would spend one more full season with the team – where they missed the postseason – before being traded to the Knicks. The Bulls would make the playoffs again in 2016-17, but their two wins came on the road in Boston before losing four straight.
Of course, there is also the one playoff series for the recent “Big 3.” Thanks to a heroic DeMar DeRozan effort, the Bulls stole a game from the Milwaukee Bucks to avoid a clean sweep. But that win came up I-94 at the Fiserv Forum.
So if the lack of playoff success since that 2014-15 series against Cleveland wasn’t bad enough, we’re reminded that not a single victory came in front of home fans at the United Center. In fact, the most recent home playoff memory for this city is a 24-point loss to the Bucks. And the game before that? A 30-point loss.
I’m typing these depressing words to lead up to a comforting conclusion with a silver living, right? Surely there must be a branch of hope we can grab onto and stop this freefall? Welp, I’m sorry for any confusion. Today’s anniversary simply reminds us how bad it’s been and how far away it seems. Arturas Karnisovas can vow that change is coming, but there is nothing he can say that changes how disappointing the last nine years have been.
