“I finally hit the damn free throw,” Rose was saying in the Bulls locker room after the Bulls escaped with a 105-102 victory over the New York Knicks that Rose made a bit more interesting with one of two free throws with 5.3 seconds left to give the Knicks a last chance for a tie. “That’s what I’m happy about. I hit one. So, hopefully next time I’ll hit both of them.”

That, of course, was in reference to his pair of missed free throws at the end of the loss in Miami that began this four games in five nights stretch. Rose was disconsolate and near tears afterward despite 34 points. But he was enjoying a light moment late Thursday night after earlier being named a starter to the Eastern Conference All-Star team and putting on a show worthy of Broadway for the New York crowd.

My Fair Derrick.

“He was great from the start,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

Rose had 32 points and 13 assists, including 15 points with a pair of threes in the fourth quarter to hold off the Knicks, who trailed 99-92 with 3:38 remaining.

But the Bulls were running on fumes the rest of the way, more reminiscent of Dean Smith’s old four corners offense the way they pretty much held the ball and tried to run out the clock, which isn’t a great idea with only 24 seconds per possession.

The Knicks began to strangle Rose with aggressive double teams to get the ball out of his hands. He tried to force in a drive lefthanded which missed, and then Oak Park’s Iman Shumpert got inside for a score to make it 99-96.

I thought Thibodeau did a marvelous job mixing and matching lineups as he searched for defense with Carmelo Anthony overwhelming Ronnie Brewer, who had a tough week trying to defend LeBron James and Andre Iguodala before Anthony.

So Thibodeau went most of the fourth with rookie Jimmy Butler, who did an excellent job on Anthony, who was just one of six in the fourth quarter. The strain of playing without Luol Deng certainly is showing, and although there was no official word there were hints around the locker room Deng might give it a try in Milwaukee Saturday.

Though because Butler could be a reluctant offensive player, Thibodeau was alternating with Kyle Korver, using C.J. Watson with Rose in a two point guard tandem to try to take pressure off Rose and back and forth with Taj Gibson, struggling offensively of late, and Carlos Boozer, who did have 16 points and nine rebounds.

“We were small in the backcourt,” noted Thibodeau. “It allowed us to do some switching. I liked the way that group was functioning together, so I ran with it.”

And it would pay off eventually.

With that small group, Butler came up to set the high screen for Rose instead of Joakim Noah. But the defense pretty much let Butler go. Rose passed to him, but Butler missed.

“It wasn’t so much, ‘Leave him,’” said Butler. “They respect Derrick so much. He’s so clutch you have to take it out of his hands.”

Thibodeau would make 14 substitutions in the last two minutes.

With the Bulls ahead 99-94, Amar’e Stoudemire, who had a season high 34 points and 11 rebounds, picked up a Butler block on Anthony and put it in to bring the Knicks within 99-96 with 2:08 left.

Rose then missed a runner, but Noah got a big block on Anthony inside leading to Butler’s first big play as a pro.

With the defense overplaying Rose again, Butler did a hard dribble from the left wing and pulled up for a 13 footer for a 101-96 lead with 1:08 left.

“The crazy thing is I’m not that person,” said Butler of looking for the shot. ”When I walked over to the bench Lu was like, ‘Shoot the ball!’ Lu always says good things happen when you shoot the ball. The first one I missed, but Booz got the rebound and scored. (I’m thinking) I don’t want to miss and they go down and make a layup. But I know I can make that shot. Derrick’s told me plenty of times, ‘Don’t worry. Shoot the ball. The easy play is not always to put the ball on the ground. Sometimes it’s to shoot.’ So I came off one dribble and pulled up. It’s the shot I like.”

It was sweet and the Bulls were looking safe, ahead 101-96 with 89 seconds left. But Anthony, who had 26 points, though on a wild 10 of 26 shooting, got it back to three with a minute left with a 14 footer.

The Bulls ran off 20 seconds again before Rose tried a short one inside that Tyson Chandler kicked back. Anthony then drove, but Taj Gibson stayed with him and answered with an impressive block. The Knicks got the ball back, but with just 28.5 seconds left and trailing 101-98. Stoudemire then found Landry Fields, who had 17 points, for a score to bring New York within one with 23.4 seconds left. The Knicks had to foul. Brewer got the ball as the crowd reacted: Foul that guy! But the Knicks still had a foul to give. The Bulls called timeout and got a play to Kyle Korver, the team’s best shooter but just 73.9 percent on free throws this season.

“Those are supposed to be my shots,” said Korver, who continued to shoot well once again after a slump with 16 points and three of five threes. “But I haven’t been especially good at the free throw line this year. You can shoot as many as you want in practice. But until you are making them in the game it’s different. I haven’t gotten a lot of free throws in general, and I haven’t shot them especially well. I went through my little check list and shot and made them.”

That made it 103-100 Bulls with 13.7 seconds left. The Knicks called time and came out, I thought surprisingly, with Stoudemire popping out to shoot a three for the tie.

“I knew we had a lot of time left,” Stoudemire said. “But the coaches said if you were open to shoot it.”

Gibson got the rebound, and was fouled, heading to the line with 9.3 seconds left and all the buddies of the Brooklyn native he’d gotten tickets for now taunting him to miss.

“It was a little nerve wracking,” Gibson conceded. “They’re in the stands trying to talk to you. It was like playing at Rucker (Park). The crowd went crazy when I missed the first. I’ve got friends behind the goal screaming for me to miss. They love the Knicks. New York’s cold blooded, man.”

Anthony then was fouled with 6.3 seconds left and made both to bring the Knicks within 104-102. So why the heck were the Bulls fouling up four?

“That was a mistake,” said Thibodeau. “It was a miscommunication on my part with Ronnie. Up four we want to stay down and not react to a shot fake. That was on me.”

I actually thought Thibodeau was covering for Brewer, who just had a brain cramp, but that was nice of the coach.

Then Rose was fouled, ooops, missing the first but making the second to give the Knicks a last gasp with 5.3 seconds left but no timeouts. Anthony went down the right side and had a three on line. But it came up short.

So the Bulls salvaged a 2-2 start of the nine-game road trip and a tough four in five nights. The schedule breaks some now with no more back to backs until Feb. 28/29 and a five game homestand before All-Star break after this trip ends with a national TV game in Boston Feb. 12.

But you can see this Bulls teams wearing down as they’ve had to use the bench extensively in front line roles, thus diminishing the reserve strength and leaning more on the great Rose.

It was Rose’s fourth game of at least 30 points in the last five as his scoring average has topped 23. He’s shown no indication of his sprained turf toe injury and it’s a good thing as Brewer, Gibson and Noah have struggled on offense. Watson has come on, thus having to play with Rose, which diminishes the backcourt size and defense. And Korver has had to be on the court more to balance the offense as Thibodeau now has been using Butler more, and he’s admitted a reluctance to shoot.

Noah did have a good effort with 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and even holstered his shooting pistols like in Miami after a jump shot. It’s still not getting anyone to guard him. So Thibodeau continues to scramble for balance, though it’s somewhat easier against a defensively deprived Knicks team.

I know there’s much criticism of Boozer’s defense in Chicago. But you should get a look at Stoudemire and Anthony, who look like they’re waving bon voyage to those going on a cruise the way they defend the lane. That leaves the emotional Chandler running all over the place, and it’s difficult to see Baron Davis helping that. So the Knicks fell to 8-14 while the Bulls went to 19-6.

It also continued a remarkable streak for the Bulls of not having lost two straight since last February.

“It says a lot about our team,” said Thibodeau. “For the most part this team plays hard every night. It was a disappointing game in Philly. But I loved the resilience, the resolve, the bounce back ability. We’ve got great leadership. We’re looking at four in five. You can give yourself that excuse or find a way to win.”

Though it hardly answers the Bulls issues yet with the scoring and defense that presumably will improve dramatically with the return of Deng and Richard Hamilton. Of course, it should be remembered when Deng returns it’s to see if he can play. There remains the possibility he cannot with that wrist fracture.

Meanwhile, it was a wonderful show Rose put on in Madison Square Garden, and one thing you can say about a New York basketball crowd that when they are finished picking your pockets they will appreciate looking at some good basketball.

“I love playing here,” said Rose. “The crowd really loves basketball, knows basketball. I love the energy. They talk about you. They love their team. I love it.”

I actually think they hate their team, especially Anthony as there was considerable booing just before halftime as the Bulls ran out time and again after one on one Knicks’ jump shots, two nice ones from Noah beating the whole Knicks team to the basket.

As I’m from New York I can venture into the crowd and talk New Yawk. And only a few guys asked me what I was looking at. But what I heard plenty of is they can’t stand Anthony’s brand of individual play and did I know they won a title here in 1970.

Rose wasn’t exactly passive to begin, but he was looking to move the ball, finding Korver for a pair of threes and a couple of runners of his own for a 29-25 first quarter lead and then 55-44 at halftime.

The Bulls were having trouble with Stoudemire as Thibodeau mostly kept Boozer on him, which was a bit of a surprise as Noah usually gets the high scorer. But Noah had difficulties with the 76ers perimeter power forwards Wednesday and rendered mostly ineffective. So Thibodeau kept him with Chandler and Noah had four blocks and did a good job protecting the middle.

The Knicks came back behind Anthony in the third as he was wearing out Brewer and closed within 77-75.

“We had a tough time stopping them toward the end,” said Rose. “They were hitting some great shots. We were just trying to hold onto that lead. Last night was a terrible game. We were just trying to redeem ourselves.”

So it was Rose to the rescue after a Boozer jumper made it 88-83. Rose had the New Yorkers up and cheering with an “oh my” spinning drive, a pull up three, some incredible floaters again and a jumper for a 95-88 lead that enabled the Bulls to have just enough to hang on for the win.

“We try not lose two in a row,” said Gibson. “We always try to come back harder after a loss. It’s the mindset we have as competitors. Guys want to work and help one another. We’ve got a lot of guys on this team ready to step up and who are not afraid.”

It’s still working, but the margin of victory is narrowing.

Rose was the leader among East guard in votes and second on the East team in votes to Dwight Howard. LeBron James was third and Dwyane Wade fourth. Rose will start with those three and the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony.

Overall, Rose received the third most votes from fans with Kobe Bryant second. Bryant will start for the West with Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Andrew Bynum.

“It means a lot,” said Rose. “I remember just wanting to be in the All-Star game. It’s something I take to heart. I wanted to accomplish something when I got into this league, and one of the accomplishments is being on the All-Star team. It’s an honor.

“It means a lot for the fans to vote for me,” added Rose before playing the Knicks. “I didn’t realize I had all those votes. I’m appreciative. I don’t take any one of my fans who went on line and voted for me for granted. I appreciate them all and hope they continue to watch me.

“It’s definitely fun playing on a team like that where everyone one of them are different type of leaders,” said Rose. “And me being a young player it’s something I can take from there and add to this team.

“When you first go into the game, that’s when the highlights are in the beginning of the game,” said Rose. “Later on in the game things get serious and competitive and you want to win.”

Rose was asked about having to thus practice his lob passing and he laughed. No, not on his Bulls team.

“I’m never going to throw one like that, especially on this team,” Rose said. “Jo (Noah) likes the bounce pass. It’s something I’ve got to get used to like back in my college days. I think I’ve got a lob in me.”

“The All-Star game is for the enjoyment of the crowd, for the little kids,” said Rose, “for the excitement.”

And it should be quite a show with Rose again running with Wade and LeBron.

As for not getting that All-Star rest during a grueling season, Rose said, “Everyone is looking for a way to rest this year. This year is hectic, but it’s something I’ve conditioned for and I’m going to be OK.”

Well, not quite. The Eastern Conference may be catching up as the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday clobbered the Bulls 98-82 as it got so bad the starters didn’t play in the fourth quarter and coach Tom Thibodeau said he wasn’t thinking of bringing them back, anyway.

“Our starters were so lethargic in the third,” said Thibodeau of being outscored 26-11 and falling behind 75-55 after three. “Quite honestly, if we had gotten closer I was going to finish with the group we had in there. They were fighting to get us out of the hole.”

Yes, Brian Scalabrine and John Lucas among them.

And so now it turns out on closer inspection the Bulls at 18-6 are just a game ahead of the 76ers and Hawks and a game and a half ahead of the Pacers. And the Bulls have not defeated a winning team since Jan. 6 when they beat Orlando, and we know what a mess they are. And since then the Bulls have lost to the Hawks, Pacers, Heat and now 76ers.

Maybe it’s not time to panic with Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton still out injured. But there’s no need to begin ordering champagne or checking for Grant Park celebration dates.

“We were loose with the ball,” said Thibodeau, noting 17 Bulls turnovers the athletic 76ers ran into a staggering 29 points with a 21-4 edge in fast breaks. “They’ve got great hands, quick. They got to loose balls. We got in a hole (behind 40-29 midway through the second quarter), closed it at the half (to 49-44). Then the start of the third quarter they played really hard. Give them a lot of credit.

“Our defense was not good,” agreed Thibodeau. “Our reaction was not good. They’re quick to the ball. Our reaction to the ball was not good. They beat us to balls with second effort. The fourth quarter we were just scrambling and trying to get back in. But the hole was too big.”

So the question for the Bulls is whether this is a crater they are falling into or just a little tremor that will soon pass.

“Just one of those games,” said Derrick Rose, who had 18 points and was nursing a cold as he skipped the morning shootaround. “The starters did not come out and play the way we know how to play. We turned the ball over, their defense was great, creating turnovers, playing the passing lanes, rebounding the ball, tipping it back out to the guards and we could not get to it and it hurt.”

The 76ers, even without their starting and backup centers out injured, outrebounded the Bulls 43-37 as Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer both were beaten badly with the 76ers getting 46 points inside to 28 for the Bulls. Yes, Tony Battie and Lavoy Allen outplayed Noah, Boozer, Omer Asik and Taj Gibson.

But Rose also pointed to an Achilles heel, toe and arch that is an often unspoken problem for the Bulls.

“They’re a very good defensive team,” Rose noted. “They’re scrappy. They have a lot of athletic people. They’re an athletic team. We were out there sluggish. The energy wasn’t there. I really can’t explain it. They’ve got a lot of athletic people, especially the wings.”

That lack of athletes is the unspoken secret with the Bulls. It’s their disadvantage against Miami, though it’s offset with their size up front and depth. The 76ers match the depth with maybe the league’s best bench. So the Bulls need to dominate them inside. But a relatively unknown rookie, Allen from Temple, was the best big man in the game with 15 points while Rose was the only Bulls starter to score in double figures.

“One of the keys for us tonight was our bench,” said 76ers coach Doug Collins. “We talked about dominating their bench. They actually started two guys who normally come off the bench. Korver normally comes off the bench with C.J. Watson and Brewer. I told our guys, “They’ve got those two (bench) guys starting now, so we’ve got to do a great job.”

The Bulls weren’t unaware of their issues against athletic teams and tried to address that with a shooting guard who could handle the ball and make plays. But it’s not an easy position to find, and the Bulls went for Hamilton, who is a vast upgrade. But Hamilton’s groin issues recurred and he could be out now several weeks as the Bulls are determined to allow him to heal properly.

With Noah and Boozer not able to make an impact, Thibodeau was forced into trying to match the 76ers speed with Rose playing more with C.J. Watson, the latter leading the Bulls with 20 points. Only he and Rose scored in double figures for the Bulls.

But the 76ers counter that with five players, Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young who can make plays with the ball and run pick and roll. They’re also long armed and mostly quick, and the 76ers will use Young at power forward. So when they had a lineup with Young at power forward and even Allen at center, Noah was having to defend Young and kept getting caught not sure whether to come out or stay near the rim and allow open jumpers. So he staggered pretty much in a middle nether world getting little done until the Bulls had to give up their size advantage and try to match the 76ers with their own smaller players, who are not as athletic.

Thus it gave the 76ers a big edge.

“If you look at our team, people want to say, “What’s your identity?” Our identity is our defense,” said Collins. “Getting in the open court and playing. Moving the basketball. As I said, 26 assists, 10 turnovers, 46 points in the paint, 21 fast break points, 29 points off turnovers. When we do that, we’re pretty good.”

Too good for the Bulls, whom they beat two of three last season. And the 76ers did a good job on Rose with their aggressive defense which is No. 1 in the NBA. Few teams are as quick and athletic. So when Rose was running the pick and roll on top, which the Bulls often do, the 76ers were jumping it to force Rose to his left hand. Then they were closing off the middle and forcing a pass to the free throw line area where Boozer and Noah were missing shots. With the floor unbalanced in rebounding, the 76ers were able to get in transition.

Thibodeau tried rookie Jimmy Butler a bit, and while he is aggressive, he doesn’t offer much offense. And Ronnie Brewer continued in a shooting slump. So you had a group mostly without much offensive activity or range other than Kyle Korver, and the 76ers turned it to their advantage.

“Defensively, we were so good,” said Collins. “When you play against Derrick Rose, you have to do everything in your power to try and keep him away from that basket and out of that paint. This was a game that our big men did a wonderful job. Our whole game plan was try to keep them out of the paint, off that foul line, and then make Noah, make (Taj) Gibson, make Boozer, make those guys jump shooters. Make them two-point jump shooters. I thought we did a really good job with that.

“Andre Iguodala was spectacular tonight,” added Collins. “That third quarter that he played for us was brilliant. He hit some big shots, had a nice run.”

Iguodala led the 76ers with 19 points (Young had 19 also) and nine rebounds and maybe edged ahead of Deng for All-Star consideration with continued excellent team play for the rising 76ers with Deng out hurt.

Iguodala led that third quarter burst to break the game open with a driving slam dunk in which the Bulls interior defenders were frozen and gave no help, another dunk, a poster style one with his arm well outstretched behind his head after Battie blocked Rose, and then Iguodala casually walked into a three pointer.

The 76ers had six layups or dunks in the third quarter while the Bulls pretty much settled for jump shots, going three of 16 and thus enabling the 76ers fast break. The 76ers had 11 fast break points in the quarter with the Bulls committing six turnovers.

“A really frustrating game,” said Korver. “They played really well, shot the ball well, executed well. They had a lot of energy and were hungry and wanted to prove a point.

“But we can’t let up,” said Korver. “This team this year can’t sneak up on anybody. Teams want to beat us and want to make a statement. The moment you let up things can go wrong in this league. We know that, but games like tonight are kind of a reminder.”

Though that’s not the sort of messages the Bulls want to listen too that much.

Miami did lose as well, in Milwaukee, so this isn’t exactly the typical season. The Bulls early season has been one of the most difficult in the NBA, and it breaks pretty much after this long road trip. Rose will be named a starter to the Eastern Conference All-Star team Thursday on the TNT broadcast, though the way the team has played lately it’s getting more questionable whether they’ll have another All-Star. Deng would seem the only other with a chance, and his extended absence could change that, especially with the Bulls perhaps out of first place in the East by next week.

Of course, Bulls players and coaches don’t measure that much as Thibodeau said Wednesday when talking about being named Eastern Conference coach of the month for January.

But there are other issues with Deng and Hamilton out, namely scoring, which is another that’s hung over the team after last season. And while Thibodeau appropriately dismisses injuries and doesn’t allow his team to make excuses, the Bulls are left at a distinct scoring disadvantage without Deng and Hamilton.

Speak little, do much, as Ben Franklin said. Though not particularly to Thibodeau.

“We’re not trying to think that way (about missing Deng and Hamilton catching up with the team),” said Rose. “There are no excuses. We still have to go out and play these games with effort. Tonight it was clear (we did miss them).”

There’s talk again of adding a big guy, the latest being Joel Pryzbilla, whom the Bulls have courted much of the season. But he’s not going to contribute any scoring or athleticism, though he’s the best of the big men available.

It looked positive for the Bulls to begin with the Bulls scoring on eight of their first 10 possessions as both Korver and Boozer were hitting outside (five of seven combined) and Rose added a three for a 17-11 lead. But Iguodala answered along with rookie Allen hitting jumpers with the Bulls defense not reacting and the 76ers finishing the quarter with a 16-4 run for a 27-21 lead.

Young always has been a brutal matchup for the Bulls with his quickness and long arms, too quick for the power forwards and centers, even Gibson, and too long for the small forwards other than Deng. He began scoring along with Holiday as the 76ers went up 11. But Rose answered with some tough drives even while being pounded and sent to the floor several times without a call. Thibodeau was blasting the officials, though perhaps he needs a few more technicals to get their attention. I even had an advance scout come to me at halftime and say he’s never seen a top player in the league fouled so regularly with no calls. Rose didn’t get a single foul call in the half.

“I guess because I play through it they don’t call it,” Rose said with a shrug. “Hopefully, I get that respect one day.”

Maybe with a second or third MVP.

I usually don’t mention much about officiating as everyone complains about the calls or lack of them. But Rose really was getting bounced around in this game. It probably didn’t help the rest of the team seemed satisfied to shoot jumpers.

That was pretty clear after halftime as the Bulls opened with four missed jumpers in their first six shots and the 76ers began running out with them and pretty much ran away with the game.

Lazy minds and lazy bodies, it turned out.

Thobodeau tried a few wrinkles in the fourth with a zone and a trap and going to Scalabrine with about eight minutes left and Lucas a few minutes after that. Watson had 11 of his game high 20 in the fourth and Gibson had some strong moves inside. But the closest the Bulls got was down by a dozen with about four minutes left before Young ran out for still another fast break layup after a Watson turnover and followed that with a 15 footer to keep the Bulls from getting any ideas.

“Philadelphia certainly was very, very impressive,” said Thibodeau. “They’re good, an excellent team.”

Just like the Bulls were last week.

My favorite was reason No. 676 why Derrick Rose is not your ordinary star. Before the game, legendary 76ers statistician Harvey Pollack stopped by to give Rose one of Pollack’s annual stat reviews, one of the more fun looks at NBA stats. Pollack explained to Rose that he had been in the NBA since its start in 1946. So Derrick asked Pollack if Pollack would sign the stat book for him. Yes, Derrick Rose asked Harvey Pollack for his autograph.

Rose had a bit of a cold, but he seemed fine and we had a nice discussion about horror movies. He says they’re his favorite these days and loves to be scared. Rose said he’s been watching some of the vampire TV shows and movies as well, though they are more favorites of his brothers. I mentioned liking time travel movies and brought up something about Star Trek. He looked at me a bit quizzically and said his mom liked Star Trek. I get that a lot.

I had a trivia question for Carlos Boozer. Anderson Varejao had a 20/20 game for the Cavs against the Celtics Tuesday. I asked Boozer who was the last Cav to have a 20/20 game. Boozer guessed, “Big Z?” No, it was Carlos Boozer in 2004, I told him. He seemed to like that.

Luol Deng continued to progress and work out hard before the game from his wrist injury, which he said remains sore and will be so without surgery. Deng didn’t say when he’d play, but it seems the team is leaning more toward Saturday in Milwaukee.

Coach Tom Thobodeau received the NBA East Coach of the Month for January and said during his regular pregame meeting with reporters: “That’s a byproduct of the winning. Fortunate to be here with a great organization, a great coaching staff and a great group of players. It’s all a byproduct of winning. It’s more a testament to the group of players we have, the organization and I have a great staff.”

Thibodeau said Kyle Korver, who was drafted by the 76ers, would start again for Richard Hamilton, whom Thibodeau said the team will keep out for a while now until his groin and thigh injuries heal. Hamilton went into the 76ers locker room before the game to chat with his former coach, Doug Collins, who recalled similar groin issues with Hamilton even back in Washington.

Thibodeau said one issue with Hamilton is he can’t practice with the injury and Hamilton doesn’t play well when he doesn’t practice. “We’re going to be real patient with him and make sure he can play both sides of the ball. I think that’s the smart thing to do right now,” said Thibodeau.

I ran into Korver and his wife when I got into the hotel Tuesday afternoon and they were headed out to the charitable organization Korver worked with and helped start when Korver played with the 76ers.

The 76ers are again without starting center Spencer Hawes and perhaps backup Nikola Vucevic. They were figuring again to start veteran Tony Battie. They recently added veteran Francisco Elson.

I ran into old buddy Andres Nocioni, who said he’s doing well. Yes, he’d like to play more, or at all. But Nocioni is keeping positive as there are rumors he could be part of a deal for a big man like Chris Kaman, though the 76ers are pooh poohing that for now.

Thibodeau said he was pleased to see Keith Bogans signed by the Nets: “I’m happy for him. Consummate pro. Did a great job for us. Obviously very happy for him.”

Collins said he was worried about “us manufacturing offense” without Hawes and “You’ve got to stop that human dynamo, Derrick Rose. He’s got an incredible will. He’s an amazing player. I have so much respect for him. He’s such a competitor.”

Collins said he may put Andre Iguodala, his best defender, on Rose, but only sporadically and likely late.

Collins said one thing overlooked with the Bulls is how good their interior players are: “They’re plus 5.5 rebounding. They have great size and depth. It’s a nice four-man rotation. Asik and Noah give them size and shotblocking and they’re No. 1 rebound differential and one of the best second chance teams in the league. Sometimes just (Rose) getting a shot up at the rim gives you a chance with the way those guys are opportunistic. They’re one of the reasons why the Bulls have a chance to win a championship.”

Collins grew emotional when talking about not rushing players back to play. He said he was accused as a player of having a low threshold of pain. “I went out and played with two broken feet and it ended my career,” he said. “I’m incredibly sensitive to that. When somebody tells you (that) you can be playing it’s not your leg.”

They are the best defensive team in the NBA, leading the NBA in opponent field goal percentage defense, to many the best barometer of a top defensive team.

They’re No. 2 behind Boston in defense against three point shots and tops in the league in fewest points allowed.

They’re leading the league in what many regard as the barometer for most wins, point differential, at more than 11 per game.

And, oh, what a bench. When that mob comes into the game they have an advantage over just about everyone in the NBA.

And, no they are not the Bulls.

They are the Philadelphia 76ers, whom the Bulls visit Wednesday, the surprise team in the NBA and quietly waiting in the playoff weeds to pull an upset on someone.

And it’s a Sixers team with not much fear of the Bulls as Philadelphia won two of the three between the teams last season. Ranking points scored against points allowed in the league, it’s Philadelphia No. 1, Chicago No. 2 and Miami No. 3.

So while the Bulls look up, or ahead, to Miami, they also better keep their eyes all around. There Indiana, which won in Chicago last week. And the 76ers also are beginning to get some notice in the Eastern Conference as they are quietly 15-6, just two games behind the Bulls.

“Our defense has been terrific all season long,” said 76ers coach Doug Collins, the leading candidate for NBA Coach of the Year. “I’m thrilled where we are. Hopefully, we can get healthy and continue to do that. We have strength in numbers. Our guys want to compete.

“We’ve got good players,” said Collins. “We don’t have a great one. It hurts us in close games when we’re trying to get that one basket. But you can’t say if you stop so and so you stop us.”

The 76ers have generally been able to avoid the go to player ending with an unusual combination of effort driven by Collins. They have seven players averaging in double figures with shooting guard Jodie Meeks just below at 9.4. They went seven games with seven different leading scorers. Their leading scorer, Lou Williams, comes off the bench and averages 15.7, an indication of their unselfish play. Andre Iguodala leads them in assists and averages 6.6 rebounds in regularly threatening triple-doubles. They are sixth in the league in assists, just behind the Bulls.

But they are well ahead of the Bulls and rank in the top 10 in steals and limiting opponents’ assists. They absolutely squeeze teams. Orlando Monday had 51 points with about three minutes left in the game. The last three games they’ve held the opponent under 40 percent shooting and 80 points.

It’s been a terrific run for Collins, the former Bulls coach, who has burnished his credentials as perhaps the game’s foremost turnaround specialist. With little change in the roster, the 76ers have gone from 27 wins before Collins to 41-41 last season and now a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division ahead of the Celtics and Knicks.

“We are keeping our heads above water,” said Collins. “If you look at our stats without (starting center Spencer) Hawes, what he does has been amazing for us. We’re averaging 11.5 points per game less without him. He’s such a ball friendly guy. He moves the ball well and guys cut off him and he’s great seeing the floor. We miss him offensively, and we’ve been struggling to score.”

Hawes was one of the surprises of the early season averaging almost a double-double before an Achilles strain, though he could be back for the Bulls Wednesday after missing eight games. Also, backup center Nik Vucevic also could return after missing the last five with a knee strain.

Collins said Elton Brand has been coming on stronger and played Dwight Howard mostly one on one Monday, holding him to 17 points. “EB is getting his legs,” said Collins. “For the older bigs, this season is a nightmare. You see around the league the guys with mileage, like (Kevin) Garnett. There’s not enough time to recover with the three in four, five in seven.”

It’s in rebounding and front court size where the 76ers lag behind a team like the Bulls. And, of course, without that Derrick Rose type star. The Bulls will also come in shorthanded with Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton expected to be out again.

Rose has been on a spurt the last few games, and Collins says that is a concern as in the 76ers’ two losses at home point guards — Deron Williams and Andre Miller — had big games.

Collins admits his young point guard, Jrue Holiday, has had an uneven start after a strong close to last season and playoff series against Miami. Though 76ers players find in Collins what Bulls players have in Tom Thibodeau, and the 76ers have come to embrace that with relentless play.

Typical was last week against the Wizards when Holiday started off carelessly with three poor shots and a pair of turnovers as the 76ers fell behind. Collins called time and took Holiday out.

“’Are you the guy?” Collins asked Holiday, “’Who (when I challenged you) didn’t make a turnover against Miami? Turnovers, bad shots. You’re not into it. This is a point guard driven league.’”

Holiday got the message and came back strong, helping lead the 76ers to a big win as the leading scorer along with Brand.

“I love my guys,” said Collins. “They know they’re going to get the truth from me. It’s the way you teach. You live by habits, good or bad. You hold players accountable and help them get better.”

It’s been Collins’ way for a long time, though the early stretches were rough in Chicago and Detroit.

“It’s been really good for me,” said Collins. “This hasn’t been about whether I can coach. Before I was too young and my career (in Chicago) ended prematurely. I still had a player mindset. I get fired, and Detroit I’m trying to prove myself, and in Washington there’s the dysfunction with Michael (Jordan’s return). Now I just feel good about where I am, not having to go out every night to prove myself but being able to work with the players and teach and get to know them. And help build something to make this city proud.”

Collins has fit in seamlessly in Philadelphia with his daughter and his grandkids living nearby and back where he started his NBA career. The franchise has a new owner and the city is growing excited again about basketball. And you don’t want to relax on this 76ers team.

“When I woke up, yesterday’s game (Sunday’s loss to the Heat in which Rose missed two late free throws and a tying shot) was out of my mind,” said Rose. “I just wanted to come out and be aggressive. I was playing my game. Thibs tells me to play my game and everyone would follow.”

Derrick Rose for president? He came to Washington Monday, and he certainly showed leadership.

“He set the tone,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. “It’s his will. He imposes his will on everybody.”

And Rose would on the Washington Wizards with a season high 35 points in a wire to wire Bulls 98-88 victory. Rose, following up on a pregame promise to “go crazy,” came storming into the game with 13 first quarter points and three assists, pushing the Bulls to a double digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game that they basically would hold throughout. The Bulls would push it up to 22 in the third before Washington got within eight in the fourth quarter, though never closer.

“Basketball’s a crazy game,” Rose mused. “It’s not going to be your night every night.”

And, true, the Bulls would liked to have defeated the Heat, though it was the sort of game that hardly limited their confidence. And then they avoided the trap of less committed teams and didn’t allow a rested, albeit less talented Washington team, to take advantage of the potential emotional hangover.

“Thibs was telling us he was more scared about this game than yesterday,” said Rose. “He’s definitely the best coach I’ve had. He holds you accountable for every single thing.”

In recounting Rose’s play after the game with not only 35 points but 14 of 15 from the free throw line, eight assists and five blocked shots, Thibodeau said Rose, who had zero, could have gotten some rebounds. Thibodeau did concede it was if he wanted to not pick, though he did bring it up.

“He puts a lot of pressure on you as a player,” said Rose with a knowing smile. “He makes sure everyone is keyed in on what you have to do in that game.”

It is where Thibodeau is best, especially in a season like this with so many games and so many reasons for take a step back, especially for a team like the Bulls with an East best 18-5 record. There are some congratulations, though more urgency. Some will say that will wear down the players. Thibodeau will say that’s an excuse. There is no proof. Do you miss a shot in Game 7 of the playoffs because you played extra in January? Or because you got accustomed to not being ready?

But no one among the Bulls is complaining, and it was an impressive overall effort even without Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton, the latter now taking some time to rest his leg ailments. Deng could return later this week while C.J. Watson came back from his sore wrist against the Wizards.

Kyle Korver started for Hamilton and had a big game with 17 points and five three pointers while Carlos Boozer added 18 points and eight rebounds, including three straight baskets when the Wizards put that little scare into the Bulls in pulling within 86-78 with 6:51 left on a Nick Young three.

The Wizards under interim coach Randy Wittman are somewhat more disciplined and use more of their athletic ability, outscoring the Bulls in fast breaks 16-5. They even threw a defense at the Bulls much of the fourth quarter the Bulls hadn’t seen much with two players trapping and pressuring Rose in the backcourt.

It led to several easy Bulls baskets and outstanding pressure release and floor play from Joakim Noah, and one particularly unusual conversation with the iconoclastic big man. Though I’ll get into that later.

Noah, who is back to the playing levels the team has expected, almost had a triple double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and a career high equaling seven assists.

The Bulls generally use Noah with Rose in the pick and roll. Some ask why since Noah isn’t much of a shooting threat. But Noah screens the hardest to help create creases for Rose, and Rose was just abusing the Wizards early off that play, darting into the lane, around and through multiple Wizards defenders with an increasing series of floaters. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a player shoot that shot as often and with as much accuracy.

“It goes without a question that Derrick Rose had an amazing game,” said Wittman.

The Wizards became so consumed with Rose in the lane that Korver fanned out on the wing and corner, repeatedly getting open looks.

“With Derrick attacking in the first quarter they got real worried about him and over rotated a few times,” said Korver. “I got some good looks and got a rhythm and it was nice to knock down a few shots. I should have knocked down a few more, but it was good.”

Wittman tried everything in going to a zone at times, basically a bad idea the way Korver was shooting, and finally to the kind of all out pressure you rarely see in the NBA.

“This is the best team that we have seen this season,” said Wittman, whose team did beat Oklahoma City. “They have the right guys to put around Rose. Kyle Korver goes for 14 points in the first half and we lost discipline of who that guy was in the corner. You have to distinguish between who the shooters on the team are and who aren’t. They are very good. There was just nothing you could do (with Rose). When he made shots over our big men with his runner, he leaves you no choice but to try different things.”

So when the Wizards did, Rose moved the ball ahead to Noah, who then became something of a point guard with a four on three break, as it were, and was either finding Boozer inside for scores or Korver in the corner.

“With Joakim in the middle the game is easy,” said Rose. “We call it easy offense. Why not pass to him and he can make decisions. It’s very unique where he can make plays even though he’s the center. He’s such a good passer. It takes the pressure off our guards. He makes easy plays to Booz, finds the shooters in the corners. He makes everyone’s job easier.”

Noah is once again playing like the rare bird of a big man who signed a big extension last season. Since returning from an ankle sprain, he’s had five straight double/doubles of 16 and 10 against the Nets, 10 and 13 against Indiana, 15 and 16 against Milwaukee, 11 and 11 against Miami and 14 and 13 Monday. He’s also averaging almost five assists per game in that stretch and such an unusual weapon, if not personality as well, that there is no one else much like that in the NBA.

“They had to trap D-Rose because he was doing whatever he wanted on the pick and roll,” said Noah. “When they started blitzing him, it opened up everything for us.”

Noah was getting so much into his role and the game, in fact, that at one point in the third quarter when the Bulls were on that quarter opening 17-7 run that extended the lead to 22, Noah hesitated 18 feet out with no one coming open. So he lined up the long jumper and it went in.

Noah punched the air and pantomimed holstering his “guns” as he ran back on defense to the delight of the heavily partisan Bulls crowd in the nation’s capital.

“We feel comfortable when they put two on the ball,” said Noah. “It’s a four on three opportunity. It’s on us to stay aggressive.”

So I asked Noah if he ever fantasized about being a seven foot point guard. I knew I’d made a mistake as soon as Noah began to look up with a smile appearing and his eyes lighting up.

Here’s how the conversation continued:

Noah: “Do I ever fantasize? Usually when I think of the word fantasize, I think of women.”

Me: “I really wasn’t going there. You’ll notice I tried to keep it to basketball.”

Noah: “I don’t think of basketball and fantasize as the same. It’s not the same category.”

Me: “I’m a little older than you.”

Noah: “No, I don’t fantasize about being a point guard, no.”

Yes, it was a lighter mood than Sunday in Miami, though no less serious.

Rose was taking a pretty good pounding going to the rim, including a full body shot from John Wall, who led Washington with 20 points, on one play. Rose would draw a rare technical foul for bitterly contesting with the officials.

“I was getting sick and tired of getting hit and not getting the call and falling on the floor,” Rose said.

Yes, Thibodeau had them ready to play again.

“Derrick set the tone,” added Noah.

It was a potpourri of highlight plays to open the game for Rose with floaters, driving scores, a three, a bank, reverse, crossovers. I thought one time he served popcorn and ran the time clock.

“A few times I caught myself just watching the shots he was taking because they are really unbelievable,” said Trevor Booker, who had 14 off the bench in leading Washington’s comeback. “He is definitely at the top of the league. He is a tough player and to be able to watch him in person was great. I watch him on TV, but actually playing against him and watching some of the things he does is crazy. He was able to split the trap a lot and I wish we could have done a better job of guarding him, but he definitely hit some really tough shots.”

And it’s not everyone Trevor Booker says that about.

The Bulls led 26-16 after the first quarter with Rose’s 13, and then with everyone searching for Rose on defense, Korver got open and hot, scoring 11 second quarter points with three of five threes and a beautiful assist to a cutting Noah for a slam dunk. Ronnie Brewer, starting for Deng, continued in his shooting slump with two of 10 and is now 20 of 59 the last six games. But he’s still working and hustling, and he followed his own misses to score, catching the Wizards still observing. The Bulls defense until late in the second quarter took the Wizards out of just about everything they tried until they finally got out running and pulled within 51-40 at halftime.

The Bulls then came firing out of the locker room for the second half behind Rose and Korver again, a Brewer dunk thrown in with that Noah 18 footer. The Bulls eased off a bit late in the third to lead 76-59 going into the fourth.

“We talked about it before the game,” said Boozer. “We said, ‘Anyone can get up for a game between the two top teams.’ No offense to Washington, but not everyone gets up for this game. But the regular season they all count. Thibs made a point of not letting up. We started great and finished great and we got up so much we were able to withstand their run. They’d make it at some point, but D-Rose was great and Jo did his thing and we did a great job finishing.”

It was 78-61 with about 10 minutes left when Young finally starting hitting those long jumpers and JaVale McGee and Booker got running and scored. But Noah found Boozer for a score and Boozer hit from the baseline, and then again as the defense was spread out chasing Rose and Noah. Perhaps fittingly, if not ironically, the Bulls closed out the game with a pair of made Rose free throws. Like Rose said, not again.

“I like seeing my city happy, especially if I’m one of the reasons why,” said Rose. “I know what we went through when Mike left and all the years all the people didn’t really watch the Bulls, and then for them to start watching the Bulls and for the organization to get the fans back, it means a lot to me knowing you see people they have Bulls hats on and Bulls apparel on. It means a lot to me.”

And watching Rose has to make every fan of the game smile.

“It just makes me hungrier,” Rose said. “Where tonight I’m going to try to go crazy.”

Rose said he got encouragement from friends as the team left for Washington.

“I know if I get in that position again, which I am, that it will be a different outcome,” said Rose, who added his injured, sprained turf toe is fine now. “It’s something I live for. (When) I think of my (potential) legacy, I want people to think of me as being a clutch player, someone that always comes through on the court. Yesterday, it hurt a little bit, but I know in the long run it will make me stronger as a player. I know if I ever get in that position again, it will be totally different.”

This media era is particularly notorious for its short memory, so I gave some thought to when Michael Jordan used to blow games like that. And it being Michael, he did it in even a bigger way. Though that was always Michael’s point and why he became the greatest player ever. There were guys who could run faster, shoot better, jump higher. But there aren’t many who want to put themselves in that position to win or lose the game.

Much always has been talked about regarding Jordan’s legendary competitiveness leading to his transcendent excellence. Though what gets overlooked is the way great players like Jordan took on the responsibility for the game, for their team, for their community.

And when you do, there will be failures.

After all, that’s what life is about. In many respects, being a great role model is failing and showing how you endure and come back from that. Everyone fails; everyone has disappointments. Few do so as publicly as professional athletes, especially the elite ones like Jordan and Rose.

So when they fail it seems all the more spectacular, just as is their successes.

Most people cannot accept the failures and rejections and prefer not to try. The great ones, no matter the field, take the chance.

Jordan had stupendous failures as well. He missed free throws down the stretch as well and in much bigger settings than Rose Sunday.

Go back to the 1989 playoffs when the Bulls were big underdogs to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls went up 2-1 in the best of five series with Game 4 in Chicago. It came down to the last minute and all Jordan needed to do was make a free throw and the Bulls clinch the series and go on to the next round. Miss and they go back to Cleveland for the final game.

Jordan missed two free throws in the last 49 seconds, and the Cavs then went on to win in overtime when Brad Daugherty made his free throws, Jordan blowing the closeout game.

It was a colossal let down, but Jordan wouldn’t see it as failure. As it happens, he had a chance for what became the ultimate redemption the next game when he hit the famous “Shot” to beat the Cavs in that fifth game.

Rarely does one get a chance for such a turnaround, which perhaps helped make the Jordan legend. The point was Jordan always put himself in the line of fire for his team and his city, and so he wouldn’t make them all. Like I quoted in my most post game analysis from Sunday’s game Jordan’s famous lines about how much he failed. Which only really made him succeed.

And so now there is Rose, and it’s not like it hasn’t happened to greats before. Isiah Thomas made maybe the worst ever inbounds pass to cost a playoff series. He went on to win a pair or titles.

It isn’t like the greats didn’t fail; it’s that they come back and try again. And that was the point Rose was making, another step in his remarkable development.

“I never would have thought in a million years I’d miss both free throws,” Rose said before going out for some pregame shooting. “At the time it definitely hurt. I talked to a few people. People try to encourage you. I know if I am in that position again it will be a different outcome. It’s something I live for. If anything, I hurt for not only me but the city of Chicago. Knowing how big that game was not only for me but the organization and our fans all over. That’s a rivalry there, you have your best player (and he) had the opportunity to take the lead and I did not come through. The only thing I can do it hope that they stay and stick with me and I promise I won’t let them down again.”

And even if he does, that’s OK. It’s just being like Mike. Because his team and fans know he’s there to keep trying. And that’s a winning attitude.

In other issues, Rose said he’s still getting treatment but his toe doesn’t bother him anymore and on continuing rumors of Dwight Howard playing in Chicago, Rose said, “Me and Dwight definitely have a relationship, especially because we are both with Adidas. Dwight is a great player. Who wouldn’t want to play with him? But you never know what’s going to happen.”

Rose has pretty much said the same thing for several years about all the top free agents.

Also, Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton were out the game and C.J. Watson was a game time decision. Hamilton could now be out awhile as the team may try to get his groin and thigh healed. Watson is day to day and Deng could play later this week.

“I’ve been in those situations before and knocked down both,” said Rose, alternately still shaking his head in disbelief and choking up at times in a business-like Bulls postgame locker room. “To miss both, I let my team down. This is so unreal for now, knowing I had chance to change the game. I guarantee next time the shots are going down. Thank God we play tomorrow.

“It was me, all the plays at the end,” Rose went on as it almost seemed for a bit reporters were trying to make Rose cry (always good TV). “I would have hit the free throws it never would have gotten that far. I know I can live with it. It’s just going to make me stronger. Gimme one. I missed both those (free throws). C’mon! The only thing I can think of is God does everything for a reason. (If He’s) telling me to work on free throws more, I’ll do that.”

Rose always does this — no, not miss potential game winning free throws as that’s LeBron James’ job — in accepting blame for every loss.

Anyone who saw a terrific regular season game Sunday on national TV knows that’s nonsense. Because playing without injured Luol Deng and C.J. Watson (which required Rose to play almost 45 minutes) and with Richard Hamilton limited and perhaps out again Monday, Rose was as spectacular as he’s ever been in bringing the Bulls back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit with twisting, turning, slashing drives again and again through double and triple teams for 34 points, six assists and six rebounds.

“He is an unbelievable talent, great player and great person,” said James.

James led Miami with 35 points, 11 rebounds and five assists but six turnovers and one of the highlight dunks of the season when he took a lob pass from Dwyane Wade and one handed it jumping over John Lucas III. Chris Bosh added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Wade had 15, though on four of 16 shooting as Hamilton did an excellent job frustrating Wade.

No other Bull scored more than 11 points and without Rose’s remarkable and determined play the Bulls never would have been in the game after trailing by a dozen in the second quarter and never leading.

As breathtaking as some of the Wade to LeBron acrobatics were early when Miami bolted out 18-7, Rose was the best player in the game.

I was talking with the legendary coach and Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay before the game. He was doing the game for ESPN radio and he posited something I’d considered but never took seriously given we in Chicago are so close in seeing Rose all the time.

Ramsay, who has seen the game for more than a half century, said he’d considered all the NBA history he knows and said he believed Rose is the best penetrating guard in the history of the game. And Rose sure looked like it with a good Miami defense basically devoting all its help and coverage to him.

Ronnie Brewer, starting for Deng, was virtually unguarded. Similarly, Noah rarely is defended, Carlos Boozer was lifted in and out for defense and played a starters’ low 27 minutes, and Hamilton admitted he wasn’t right with his nagging groin and thigh injuries. He was four of 16 for 11 points with five turnovers.

“The first quarter it felt pretty good,” said Hamilton, who limped out of the shower. “As the game went on, I felt like I was playing on one leg. It was a playoff atmosphere. You just try to will yourself through the game. I’m totally frustrated with (the injury). Your mind tells you one thing and your body is telling you something else. It felt like my whole left side (was hurt). You try to figure a way to get through it and help your team.”

So actually it was a little curious to see Hamilton running a lot of the offense after the Bulls tied the game at 84 with 6:55 left in the fourth.

At that point, the Heat in the much anticipated move switched James onto Rose, the defensive switch that many pointed toward in last season’s conference finals as decisive. Though previously when the Bulls played Cleveland in the playoffs, Rose had good success being guarded by James.

If only from a fans’ standpoint, you’d have liked to have seen Rose go against James, especially the way Rose was carving up the Heat defense, and that was even with James coming to help. So now Miami was going to mostly let James try to handle Rose.

But Rose dropped off the ball. He did get a pair of open jumpers, one a three with no one near him trailing 86-84 with 5:08 left that he missed. James then practically steamrolled over Brewer from the post to score inside to get the Miami lead back to four.

Boozer would then be called for an offensive foul on a drive and Rose missed another three after a Bosh miss. Noah then lost a pick and roll pass that James cleverly knocked off Noah, and Wade hit a floater to put Miami back ahead, seemingly comfortably, at 91-84 with 3:30 left.

That was perhaps the crucial stretch for the Bulls, though no one wanted to say Rose should have attacked James. Coach Tom Thibodeau, who seemed closing in on his first ejection several times with vivid discussions with the erratic officials, said it was merely a usual part of team strategy.

Rose said Wade had been going at Hamilton, and the offense needed to make Wade work more employing Hamilton.

“Coach tried new things and we were running a lot for Rip at that time,” Rose said. “D. Wade was going at Rip. We’re not going to let that happen without Rip going back. So we fed Rip the ball and Rip made some nice plays making him defend him.”

Hamilton said the plays for Boozer and Noah were good, but just didn’t work out.

It would have been nice to see Rose at that point attacking James, though we also assume Rose could have. With Watson out and Lucas overwhelmed, the Bulls couldn’t take Rose out and perhaps he just didn’t have enough stamina for those last free throws as he’s been sitting out games lately with his turf/sprained toe.

Of course, right after Rose missed his two, the Bulls had to foul and unfortunately Noah gave the foul, his sixth. James missed both as well with 17.6 seconds left. But Noah was out for what became the fateful jump ball of the game.

Actually, the Heat seemed to have the opportunity to blow open the game early in the fourth quarter after opening with a pair of threes to take the lead to 82-71. But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra soon took out James with Wade out, and with only Bosh to anchor an ineffective second unit the Bulls went on 13-2 run capped by two absolutely fabulous Rose driving scores, spinning past and around the Heat help to tie it at 84.

So after Miami took that seven point lead with just over three minutes left, it looked over again. Taj Gibson made a strong baseline move for a score. But it was offset by James taking the ball to the basket and getting free throws, a 40-28 game margin for Miami.

It was 94-86 Miami with under two minutes left when Rose and Boozer connected on a nice pick and roll for a score, and then Boozer in his best sequence in the game forced a Wade turnover. Boozer, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, rebounded a Hamilton miss and in the scramble with Hamilton grabbing a Rose miss Boozer grabbed another offensive rebound and scored to close within 94-90 with 1:20 left. Hmmm, what do you know.

“It was a Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat kind of game,” said Wade. “It was like the playoffs in January. Two teams who know that at one point we are going to have to meet each other and go through each other to get to where we want to get to. As a fan of the game, I love watching games like that. We were pulling away. Every time we pulled away, they came back and made some.”

James then missed, and Rose ran out for a score and was fouled for a three point play to bring the Bulls within 94-93 with 49.1 seconds left (yes, he made the free throw, which would be his 28th straight in the fourth quarter this season).

James missed again as Miami wound down the clock, and that’s when Rose was fouled. And, shockingly, he missed the two. James, notorious for his poor fourth quarter free throw shooting, matched that.

“I could not believe that he missed both, and then I could not believe LeBron missed both,” said Wade. “Avenged itself, I guess.”

Then came the controversy of the game, and you knew there would be one in a game in which Wade and Noah got tangled with elbows flaring and got double technicals in the fourth quarter.

As James missed the second, the ball headed out of bounds and Wade ran to save it. It was unclear if he stepped out of bounds, though it appeared he did not. The ball came in and the Bulls seemed to get it and call time. But the officials blew a whistle and eventually it was determined it was inadvertent, resulting in a jump ball.

James jumped against Gibson and got possession.

“I had to get jump,” said James. “I missed the free throws. Chris (Bosh) looked at me and said he’d take the tip. I said, ‘No you don’t.’ I had to do something after missing those two free throws. I was winning that jump no matter what you say.”

Perhaps he would have against anyone. Noah had fouled out giving that foul on James to stop the clock, and Thibodeau put Boozer back into the game. He could not go to the bench at that point for someone else, so Omer Asik couldn’t jump, though he played little in the game after an early defensive mixup that seemed to upset Thibodeau and pretty much benched Asik for the game.

From the Bulls view, which was pretty unanimous in the locker room, they should have had the ball trailing by one with 16.8 seconds left.

“They said inadvertent whistle, but we called timeout,” said Gibson. “We thought we had the ball. It’s a tough way to go out. We gave ourselves a chance. We kept fighting back from 10, eight, six and had a shot to win. It hurts. We couldn’t capitalize.”

Thibodeau declined comment on the officiating and the call, perhaps because he’s still working on his first head coaching contract. Spoelstra said: “It was a tough call for both teams. It really was.
The ball bounced, there was a little bit of a strip and nobody had possession. One official called a timeout and the other said it was loose. It is a tough break for both teams. We were fortunate enough to get the jump ball.”

The Bulls fouled intentionally again and Mario Chalmers made one. He missed the second. Boozer grabbed the rebound and lost it, but Rose picked it up with the Heat leading 95-93 with 9.9 seconds left.

The Bulls decided to go for the tie as their three point shooting was just three of 11 with Rose zero for four. Rose had been beating the Heat all game down the right side and thought he had the corner turned. But Udonis Haslem stepped in and Rose had to circle back toward the middle and came up short on a 14 footer. Could he have passed? Last week, Rose was criticized some for passing to Brian Scalabrine for a last second shot that missed. The stars take the shots. Thibodeau had gotten Korver into the game, but Rose couldn’t find him. Plus, he had a look. It missed. Bosh rebounded and was fouled and made both to finally end it. The Bulls fell to 17-5, one game ahead of the 15-5 Heat.

“You never take anything positive from losses,” said Noah. “It’s a tough loss right now. “We’ll be back. We’ll be back.”

The game is about winning, of course, but as losses go for the Bulls it was a pretty good one. They were without their best defender on James and Rose’s backup and played Miami down to the last possession in Miami. Hamilton showed he could be very good defending Wade as he always was with Detroit when he regularly outplayed Wade in playoffs. Wade said before the game he didn’t look forward to chasing Hamilton of Hamilton’s size on him. Hamilton may be a major weapon later in this series.

This was a game in which Miami had just about everything going for them. And they had to struggle to win at home. They don’t look anywhere near invincible.

They started fast with highlight dunks to get the crowd into the game as the Bulls committed turnovers, the major sin against Miami. James had a dozen points in the first quarter with three highlight dunks. But Thibodeau cleverly pulled out a zone midway through the quarter which slowed down Miami and showed itself as a defensive weapon that could be effective later.

The Bulls were then able to get within 24-22 after one quarter as Thibodeau stayed with the zone the last six minutes. Noah continued to show the hustle he’s been known for in beating Heat centers down the floor several times, and Kyle Korver began to find his shot with a pair of second quarter threes as the Bulls trailed 56-51 at halftime.

Miami was completely healthy, and Bosh’s long range jumper was unerring, but Miami began to get so consumed with Rose they committed the defensive zone violation. With Hamilton off and then Deng back perhaps the Bulls will have enough offense. Though it just seems they remain one more perimeter offensive option short.

Gibson alternated with Boozer and made a pair of strong scoring moves along the baseline in the second quarter as his ankle seemed better.

Rose came out strong after halftime with several more highlight drives that are just spectacular to watch the way he drives, swerves, fakes, stops, watches defenders go by, cups the ball firmly and finishes high.

“Those floaters were tearing us up,” said Bosh.

That’s another flaw with the Heat the Bulls, especially Rose, can exploit. Miami really doesn’t have much shotblocking at the basket like the Bulls do. So Rose has more latitude to attack, and it doesn’t seem something the Heat can solve with a small second unit and Eddy Curry playing briefly and looking much too slow. I may have to revise my view on him helping them later this season.

“The way I see it, every time we play the Bulls it’s going to be like that,” said Bosh. “They’re all
probably going to come down to the last couple of possessions. They’re a great team, and we’re going to see them many, many times this year.”

And Rose is going to have his chances again, we know. No one gets compared with Michael Jordan as that’s unfair. But Michael missed plenty in his time, missed free throws like Rose did but in bigger, more important times. He came back better, and you know Rose will.

I refer Rose to Jordan’s words: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

We’ll see you again soon, Derrick. We can’t wait.

The Miami marathon was being run outside, and there was no truth than the Kenyans were chasing Tom Thibodeau to the finish line. ABC-TV was here for the opening of Super Bowl week (you think they’re stupid and would spend it in Indianapolis?), and national reporters were on site moreso than even Christmas Day.

Yes, it was Bulls/Heat for the first time this season, the defending MVP against the past and presumably future MVP.

Doesn’t get bigger than that, right Tom?

“Last year was last year, this year is this year,” said Thibodeau. “This is the most important game to us because it’s the next game.”

I am sure his nose grew a bit when he said that.

”We’re not going to change how we approach things,” said Thibodeau. “They’re very good, deep, experienced. I think they made some great additions. They played very well shorthanded (though Dwyane Wade is now back). They’ve been together now for a year, so we’re going to have to play well. They’re a well balanced team. They play extremely well on both ends of the court. But we have to be ready for everybody.”

As for ready, Luol Deng and now C.J. Watson are not, with both out Sunday, Watson spraining his wrist in Friday’s win over the Bucks. Thibodeau indicated it is not serious and Watson could play in Washington Monday. Deng was working hard on the court before the game and Thibodeau would only say again Deng is getting close to playing. The issue appears to be he hasn’t practiced in any competitive session yet, though there are no practices scheduled this week with four games in five days.

“We want to make sure he feels good about playing,” said Thibodeau. “He still has to take contact. We want him to be comfortable. He’s getting closer. As long as he’s moving in the right direction we’re pleased with that.”

Thibodeau listed Deng day to day, though with Watson perhaps playing Monday I’m listing him half day to half day.

In addition, Richard Hamilton said his leg injury is better and he is playing against the Heat.

As for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, we never are quite sure what Miami people are talking about. It was Pat Riley, of course, who invented “ air space” for defending players. Spoelstra said the Bulls “offensive pie chart looks a lot different than it did last year” because of the addition of Hamilton.

Now, I do recall pie equals 3.14, but I didn’t know why. And who ever knows what they are talking about in Miami. It’s Game 1 of four in the regular season and it should only get better.

It doesn’t get any bigger than Sunday in Miami for a regular season NBA game, and if the coaches don’t care to acknowledge that and the Bulls are not permitted to, then the guys who have been there before will tell you.

“That is the kind of game where you are saying, ‘No, it’s not your time yet,’” said former Bull Horace Grant, who played in a bunch of these. “You want to make sure it’s a statement game, that when you meet again in the playoffs, and you probably will, you don’t want them thinking at all they can beat you.”

It wasn’t quite that way last season as the Bulls swept the regular season 3-0 over the Heat, though just the last one in Miami and on a last second play. Because the Heat then beat the Bulls 4-1 in the conference finals.

But that was a Miami team under the most intense scrutiny all season and then still without any portfolio. Now they are Eastern Conference champions and the preseason title favorites with the Western Conference vastly weakened. So even though no one in Miami is saying so publicly—lest Pat Riley comes down and personally crushed their vocal cords—this is a big time game for the Heat.

The Heat for their part report no injuries for the first time since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the team. And James is playing at a remarkably high level on course to another MVP. So they are not about to show a chink by allowing a Bulls team, especially a beat up team with perhaps Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton out injured, to come in and suggest they may not be all there are supposed to be. You’d think.

Grant understands that as the starting power forward for the Bulls championship teams from 1991 through 1993. Later, Grant would start for a Lakers’ title team.

And he said one of the rules for remaining a champion was not to show weakness, not to allow your biggest rival—and it is the Bulls for Miami—to come into your arena and win. You want to crush out that notion they have, make them question whether they can get it done.

“We felt as a team we were actually ticked off if they thought they could come in and beat us,” said Grant. “It’s ‘No, nah, ah.’ It’s not being cocky or arrogant. But we’re the champs. It’s like they are the baby still on the bottle. We wanted to make sure to keep them there.”

Grant, who is doing international clinics and appearances for the NBA these days while also coaching his young daughter’s teams in northern California, said it was the Knicks’ challenge in the Bulls early title years. Like with Miami now, it was Riley then as well, though as coach. The Knicks would push the Bulls to a seventh game in the 1992 conference semifinals and take a 2-0 lead in the 1993 Eastern Conference finals. But the Bulls would always go home and win, in part, because they never allowed the Knicks to gain the confidence they could succeed in Chicago.

The Bulls had won 13 straight over the Knicks at home before a late season win in the 1992-93 season, a domination that the Knicks could never quite shake. Since the Bulls began making their run in 1988-89, the Bulls are 17-1 in the playoffs at home against the Knicks. Likewise, when Miami, Orlando and Indiana made their runs during the second championship threepeat, none ever won a playoff game in Chicago and the Bulls were 15-3 at home combined against the three in those seasons.

Many still wonder if the Knicks hadn’t gotten that charitable foul call against Scottie Pippen in the 1994 playoffs whether they could have beaten the Bulls because the Knicks still could not win a game even in that series in Chicago.

That is the first major step to being a champion, which is why Sunday’s is perhaps an even bigger game for the Heat. Especially against what has to be an underdog Bulls team with injuries and less respect. After all, almost no one had a healthy Bulls team this season seriously challenging Miami. And the Bulls lead the East for now at 17-4 with Miami two games behind at 14-5. And Miami now has Dwyane Wade back after missing six games with a sprained ankle.

No one dare say anything substantive about the matchup, which is predictable as Riley hovers over both teams. Of course, the now rarely even seen Riley is the Heat president. Riley gave Jeff Van Gundy his start in coaching, and Van Gundy has been a mentor and guide for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. They practice Riley’s code of not giving anything the opposition can use. Riley even banned his players in those years from socializing with friends on the Bulls.

So everyone, not unexptectedly, has been downplaying the game with that “just another game” thing.

Don’t you believe it.

“I remember the games like that,” said Grant. “Sunday, NBC (then the NBA network), big market teams, the league’s star players, all the media. Those were the must win kind. You know the other team really wants to beat you and send that message. Those are the games you play for.”