Key injuries shape Eastern Conference playoff race

The Miami Heat have claimed the number one spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by amassing an insurmountable lead going into the final stretch of the regular season. The Heat have played well this season but would they still be in the same position had it not been for a couple of key injuries suffered by some of their conference foes?

The Chicago Bulls led by Derrick Rose have held the Eastern Conference’s best record for the past two seasons but Rose hasn’t played a single game this season. Without Rose, the Bulls are currently sitting in fifth place in the conference standings.

Deng, Deng, Deng!!! Bulls ready to rumble without Rose

Which Chicago Bulls player was the MVP of the Bulls’ 2011-2012 season? It definitely wasn’t Derrick Rose who missed nearly half the season due to injuries.

No Chicago’s most valuable player this season was Luol Deng. Although he missed 12 games himself, Deng was the player that held the ship afloat in Rose’s absence.

The Bulls will struggle to contain Carmelo Anthony in playoffs

The Chicago Bulls haven’t missed a beat this year even with point guard Derrick Rose hobbled by injuries for most of the season. They have had the leagues’ best record for most of the year and could wrap up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference in the next couple of games but we all know that the postseason is an entirely different game in itself.

Matchups are everything in the playoffs and with the Bulls looking to draw Carmelo Anthony and the eighth seeded New York Knicks in the first round, the Bulls could be looking at a first round ouster if they are not careful.

Stardom comes at a price for Bulls' Derrick Rose

Chicago Bulls’ star point guard Derrick Rose recently admitted in a GQ Magazine article that he is uncomfortable with his celebrity status. As Rose has risen to fame playing in the city where he was born and raised, his heightened visibility has made it nearly impossible for him to go anywhere in public without drawing attention.

Rose stated that having celebrity status doesn’t fit his personality. He has a soft-spoken, low-key type of personality and loves his privacy. He also loves being able to move about in obscurity but being a Chicago native and fan favorite he is not afforded that luxury.

The 2011-2012 Atlanta Hawks Season Preview

The Atlanta Hawks are a talented team that practically stumbles into the playoffs every year. It’s pretty easy to do when you consider how weak and devoid of talent the Eastern Conference is but its maddening for Hawks fans who know that they could truly be a dominant force in the league if they ever played up to their talent.