With the Chicago Bulls on the cusp of advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs, Derrick Rose finds himself preparing for something more important than a best-of-seven series against the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers.
For him, this inevitable matchup is bigger than playing into the second round for just the second time in his career. It's bigger than the chance to clinch an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
It's bigger than anyone with a working knowledge of the last three years could have foreseen.
Upon taking the floor against Cleveland, Rose will bask in the glow of all those things.