Derrick Rose says Charlie Villanueva’s foul was a ‘cheap shot’

From K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune:

"One call Rose did get came with 4:31 left in regulation. Villanueva whacked Rose as he drove on a fast break, getting some ball, arms and cutting Rose’s face. Villanueva compounded his mistake with a technical foul for a four-point Bulls possession.He and Rose exchanged words as he left to get his cut addressed.“I’m sick and tired of people trying to take cheap shots at me,” Rose said. “I was mad, man. I’m a man, so situations like that, you have to say something. He hit me in the face and didn’t even aim for the ball.”Thibodeau lobbied for a flagrant-two foul and ejection."

That’s crazy. Villanueva fouled Rose hard to stop him from making a layup. He made a play on the ball and, unfortunately, as sometimes happens on plays like that, Rose took an inadvertent shot to the face. I was shocked it was even a flagrant one, to be honest. I’m not sure it would’ve been if the player being fouled wasn’t Rose.