The Chicago Bulls were going to rally around their absent star. They were going to man up. Role players were going to step in and fill the void. And that’s exactly what didn’t happen.

You’ll remember that Bulls Guard Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL on Saturday afternoon. Leading up to Tuesday’s Game 2 (sidebar: do we really need 2 full off-days?), the talk was that everyone would have to step up and fill the void. It’s a mantra you hear from lots of teams. Sometimes, it works. Other times, like last night, the Philadelphia 76ers win by 17 points.

Rose’s replacement, CJ Watson, shot 4-11 in the game. He scored just 12 points and added 3 assists. The Bulls now head to Philadelphia, having lost their home court advantage, on Friday, for Game 3. This time, they’ll actually need someone (other than Center Joakim Noah who played very well last night) to fill the Rose void.  Otherwise, a lot of golf will be played.

While the Bulls were losing by 18 points at home, the Celtics were beating the Atlanta Hawks, in the ATL, without their star Point Guard.

You’ll remember that Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo walked into an NBA official on Sunday evening.  Leading up to Tuesday’s Game 2, the talk was that everyone would have to step up and fill the void. It’s a mantra you hear from lots of teams. Sometimes, it works. Last night, for Boston, it did.

Behind a virtuoso performance from future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce (36 points/14 rebounds) and solid defense (holding Atlanta to 35% shooting), the Celtics were able to steal home court advantage in the series. They’ll head to Boston now for Game 3 on Friday with Rajon Rondo back in the lineup.

In the fall of 2010, Rutgers University Defensive Tackle Eric LeGrand attempted to tackle an opponent in a football game, but collided awkwardly with the player. LeGrand fell to the turf, motionless, for minutes. He was rushed from the stadium to a nearby hospital where doctors determined that he was paralyzed from his neck down.

In the year following his injury, LeGrand underwent extensive physical and occupational therapy in an attempt to help him regain some movement and sensation.  By July 2011, LeGrand was standing upright and was slowly regaining some movement in his arms.

He returned to Rutgers Stadium in October of 2011 and, in his wheelchair, led the Scarlet Knights players onto the field before a game against West Virginia University.

Initially, doctors didn’t believe that LeGrand would ever be able to breathe without a ventilator. He is now able to stand for nearly an hour at a time.

LeGrand’s college coach, Greg Schiano, is now the head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This morning, the Bucs signed Eric LeGrand to a player contract. LeGrand will never play for the Buccaneers, of course. The gesture is symbolic, but it’s what it symbolizes that leads me to include it here.

Eric LeGrand’s dreams were instantly shattered nearly 2 years ago. Given the prognosis of “You’ll never breathe again,” LeGrand didn’t wallow. He worked. Hard. Incredibly hard. What the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did today for Eric LeGrand doesn’t happen every day in sports. When it does happen, it should be celebrated. As should the effort and will that Eric has exhibited since his injury.

The hitting woes of the Nats continued last night as they were unable to solve Diamondbacks starter Trevor Cahill.  Arizona came away with a 5-1 victory. Bryce Harper was 0-3 at the plate with a strikeout.

The Nationals are now 14-9 and a ½ game ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.  They’ll face the Dbacks again tonight. Edwin Jackson will take the hill for the Nats. He’ll be opposed by Joe Saunders (7:05 p.m./MASN)

LA Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (9:30 p.m./TNT). The Clippers surged back from a 27 point deficit to win in Memphis on Sunday. It’ll be very interesting to see whether the Grizzlies come out of the locker room like this or like this.