Derrick Rose takes blame as Bulls fall 3-1 behind

Distraught: Derrick Rose

13 April 2012

Derrick Rose took the blame for Chicago Bulls' 101-93 loss at Miami Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The youngest MVP in the history of the NBA missed a free-throw with 1.10 seconds to play which would have given the Bulls a point lead before spurning two more chances to level the series in the final minute.

LeBron James top scored with 35 points as the Heat went on to win the game in overtime and now take a 3-1 lead to Game 5 in Chicago on Friday.

And a distraught Rose, 22, acknowledged the fact that he had let his team down.

"Tonight it was definitely on me," said Rose who scored 23 points on the night.

"I had great opportunities to end the game and I couldn't do it. It was my fault but I will learn from it.

"If you want to be great you need to want pressure. It was a tough night and they played great defence but you need to find a way to finish the game off in the fourth quarter when we have a lead.

The Bulls now have to win all three of the remaining games in the series, two of which at home, to reach the NBA Finals and play Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder.

But Rose, who has missed two thirds of his shots in the last three games (46 out of 69), is refusing to give up on his first title.

"It's not over," he said. "We still have games to play, we are going back to play at home and we've got to be positive. Miami are beatable but we have got to make sure that we play together."

Get a taste of top class basketball in the UK when the WNBA's Atlanta Dream play the Great Britain women's basketball team at the MEN Arena on Sunday 29 May. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Follow the NBA in the UK at www.facebook.com/nbauk

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Derrick Rose takes blame as Bulls fall 3-1 behind

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