At times, it seems as if Chicago Bulls point guard sensation Derrick Rose has merely decided to use basketball as an elaborate audition for Cirque du Soleil. His drives to the basket often result in dunks and lay-ups that are simply mind-bending, with Rose twisting and contorting in the air in ways that seem inhuman and impossible. If you catch him on the right night, you might swear he can levitate, as he seemingly hangs in the air just a split-second longer than everyone else on the court. To many, Rose is the leading candidate for most valuable player, having brought the battered Bulls to third place in the Eastern Conference, behind the dueling Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. The Heat and Bulls have yet to play each other more than once at full strength, and this Sundays matchup is hotly anticipated as observers try to discern whether Roses Bulls represent a real obstacle in the way of a Heat-Celtics playoff showdown.
Sun., March 6, 8 p.m., 2011