The Bulls loss to the Pacers on Saturday was a study in plans not working out as expected. No one planned for Derrick Rose to turn his ankle. No one planned for Carlos Boozer to take the final shot. No one planned that the Bulls would lose.
But all of those things did happen. In the first quarter, Rose sprained his ankle while driving to the net. He returned, but wasn't the force the Bulls needed him to be. Through confusion on the Bulls' part and good defense from the Pacers, Boozer was left with the ball as the clock neared zero in the fourth quarter.
Either Rose, Kyle Korver or Luol Deng were supposed to get the ball, but Boozer was the only one who had a clean look. His shot came up short.
Instead of coming home after a sweep, the Bulls have to win another game to get out of the first round.
But it's not all bleak. Rose's MRI came back negative, and though he didn't practice today, swelling on his ankle reportedly went down. He was comfortable enough to ditch the walking boot for flip-flops, and says that he will "definitely" play in game five.
Seeing how tough Rose has been throughout this first round of the playoffs, it's safe to count on these plans.
