Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Game 3: Real home advantage again?
The postseason Hawks have defied a lot of the expectations created by the regular-season Hawks.
The thought was they can’t win if they don’t make their favored long 2s but after making 43.3 percent during the regular season, they are at just 36.1 percent in the playoffs. You figured defense would be a problem but postseason opponents are shooting just 41.2 percent, second to the Celtics. They didn’t get to the free-throw line much during the season but. . . . well, OK, that one still kind of holds true: .26 free-throw rate during the regular season, .29 during the postseason.
Another big difference: The Hawks have been good at home. Surely part of the reason for that is the atmosphere. Large crowds cheering enthusiastically for the Hawks were a rarity during the season. They were the rule against Orlando.
“I know they’ve been criticized in the past,” Jamal said of fans, “but in the playoffs they’ve been great.”
Smoove said he expects the same tonight.
“The environment is going to be fun,” he said. “It’s going to be as rowdy as they were [in Chicago], if not rowdier.”
Despite their problems at home this season, L.D. said the Hawks were eager to return home to Philips Arena in the first round.
“Coming back from Orlando for Game 2, I could sense the confidence level, the energy level,” he said.
Judging by the chatter among Bulls bloggers and the questions Chicago media types asked today, the visitors are expecting their fans to infiltrate Philips like they did during the regular season.
“Maybe,” J.J. said. “I am sure their fans will come out and show their support. But it is what it is. We can’t control that. The only thing we can control is [that] when we step inside those lines and play hard.”
Notes
- Jamal apparently caused a stir in Chicago with a quote after Game 2.
- Josh on his meeting with L.D.: “He wants me to be more mindful of the timing of the shots. He wants me to be efficient.”
- J.J. on keeping homecourt: “It would be disappointing to let them come in our building and win. We went down there and worked so hard to get game.”
- Josh on homecourt: “It will mean nothing if we go up there and get a split and come back and don’t have a good showing.”
- J.J. on the Bulls: “I think they can play better, especially considering the fact Derrick hasn’t shot the ball particularly well. If we can just keep him at bay I think it will play into our hands.”
- J.J. on if grinding games favor the Bulls: “I think we can go either way. I won’t say it’s a disadvantage for us. We can play a slow-down pace and grind it out as well. We’ve shown we can do that. If that’s the case then we are just going to have to bump it out.”
- L.D. on whether D-Rose’s eight turnovers were due to sloppy play or Atlanta’s D: “Now I’m giving my secrets away. I would say, looking at his turnovers, defensively we are in the right spots.”
- L.D. on if he planned to continue cross-matching Josh and Al: “We will start that way. There is a chance we will go back the other way. Our matchups, I don’t think, have hurt us. I think we have done a good job in our matchups. Defensively, we are on the money. Game 2 clearly our worst enemy was our execution offensively and our shot selection.”
- L.D. on if he planned to stick with Jamal on Rose and Teague on Korver: “We mix it up just to give [Rose] different looks. Sometimes you will see Teague on him, sometimes you will see Joe on him. One thing we try to do is not be predictable in our matchups and find matchups that give us the most flexibility.”
- D-Rose on Teague: “He’s playing well. He’s getting everybody into the game, passing the ball well, shooting the ball well, attacking, knowing his role. He was somebody that was in my [high school] class coming in so I’m happy for him.”
- Al on facing Noah in two rugged playoff games: “We are out there boxing out and wrestling around. It’s all good. That’s the way it is. It’s fun. It’s basketball.”
- Al said he hasn’t talked to or texted Noah since the Hawks advanced to play the Bulls.
- Noah on the matchup: “It’s different. Me and Al shared a lot of great times together in college. We could have been pretty high picks after the first championship [but] we decided to come back for the love of the game and the love of playing with each other and having that taste of winning [another] championship. When you share moments like that and then you have to compete against each other, it’s tough. But it is what it is. It’s OK.”
- Noah on the Bulls trying to take away Al on the pick-and-pop: “He’s a really improved shooter. He’s very consistent at hitting it. We try to have a game plan for it. We know it’s not easy. He’s a hell of a player and a hell of a competitor.”
By Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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487 comments Add your comment
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2011
8:45 pm
Again coaching, Josh should not be guarding Noah, and Jamal should not be on Rose.
Coach D
May 6th, 2011
8:45 pm
Boy is it tough sometimes to be a Hawks fan.
cp
May 6th, 2011
8:47 pm
the Hawks look a step behind
Ole Hawks Fan
May 6th, 2011
8:47 pm
Bulls have a better work ethic than the hawks……………..
Coach D
May 6th, 2011
8:48 pm
WHere the F is the defense????WTF???
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2011
8:49 pm
Josh can’t play by himself in the paint. Paging All Star Al……….
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2011
8:49 pm
I remember last year when Al Horford said that the rest of the guys quit in the 2nd round, well now he seems to have joined them this year!!!
Brandon
May 6th, 2011
8:50 pm
The Bulls are shooting 52% from the field. That’s just not acceptable. Why do these players look so unmotivated?
cp
May 6th, 2011
8:50 pm
Where has Al been? I see Josh in the paint trying to rebound but I dont see Al anywhere and his help defense has been terrible
superiorblogman
May 6th, 2011
8:50 pm
Hawks need to change there pick and roll coverage and get Kirk back to win this series. Jamal and all his over dribbling will not work this series.
PG Teague
SG Joe
SF Joe
PF Josh
C Al
Maybe we have some chance but we have the worse backup bigs in the league and its showing again
drmaryb (*_-)
May 6th, 2011
8:54 pm
If the Hawks take every play inside and draw fouls, they can stop the clock and crawl back in with some DE FENSE-ive stops!
cp
May 6th, 2011
8:54 pm
Josh has stepped up but we need Joe and Jamal to do something
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2011
8:55 pm
Joe?????
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2011
8:55 pm
This game is Exhibit A on why teams with superstars win in the playoffs and teams without superstars don’t.
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2011
8:57 pm
We run the break worse than anyone in the league.
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2011
8:57 pm
Man just TRY to regroup and win game 4, this is a wrap and has been since the mid 2nd qtr, going back to watch SMACKDOWN!!! Poor Teague, nobody wants to play with him tonight, at some point you have to TRY and develop some kind of inside game because in the playoffs you just can’t rely on jumpers falling all the time!!!
cp
May 6th, 2011
8:57 pm
blown opportunity after blown opportunity
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
8:57 pm
This game is Exhibit A on why teams with superstars win in the playoffs and teams without superstars don’t.
Najeh, that is a good point. Superstars can bail you out. Defensively the Hawks team looks bad and they are booing Josh after every bad outside shot
J.J.M.
May 6th, 2011
9:00 pm
game 4 will be 80 percent bulls fans
cp
May 6th, 2011
9:01 pm
smh Zaza cant block out
Jones
May 6th, 2011
9:02 pm
“This game is Exhibit A on why teams with superstars win in the playoffs and teams without superstars don’t.”
This is bull. You don’t need superstars to win in the playoffs. You need great team basketball. It’s all about the team. Ask the Lakers why their team filled with superstars lost to a hard-working Pistons team with no bona-fide superstar in the 2004 finals. Media-deemed superstars sell a lot of tickets, but they don’t necessarily win you the title.
If you want some recent history, look at this season’s Knicks. They have two media-deemed “superstars”, but I said all year that they were overrated because they didn’t play team defense and their offense was not team-oriented. They got swept and were probably the worst team in the 2011 playoffs. It’s not about stars, it’s about team play. Unless those teams with superstars maximize the use of their talent, they aren’t going to be any better than a team filled with solid players who play to their strengths.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2011
9:06 pm
If Zaza is not getting boards he is worthless, and he hasn’t gotten boards these last two games.
Slimjr
May 6th, 2011
9:06 pm
Gearon time to open your wallet again to take this to the next level….Cant do it with this group..Too many holes..Chicago is dismantling your squad…Just like the regular season…
Allstar AL had been a major disappointment…Embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess the Hawks really did steal game 1??
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
9:07 pm
This is bull. You don’t need superstars to win in the playoffs. You need great team basketball. It’s all about the team. Ask the Lakers why their team filled with superstars lost to a hard-working Pistons team with no bona-fide superstar in the 2004 finals. Media-deemed superstars sell a lot of tickets, but they don’t necessarily win you the title.
If you want some recent history, look at this season’s Knicks. They have two media-deemed “superstars”, but I said all year that they were overrated because they didn’t play team defense and their offense was not team-oriented. They got swept and were probably the worst team in the 2011 playoffs. It’s not about stars, it’s about team play. Unless those teams with superstars maximize the use of their talent, they aren’t going to be any better than a team filled with solid players who play to their strengths.
I agree to an extent you need team ball but you win championships with stars been proven time after time other than the 2004 pistons team and a few more examples you win championships with stars but you need team play. Knicks didnt win because the didnt play team ball but once they do that they are stars and will make it easier to win in the long run
cp
May 6th, 2011
9:08 pm
man please get Zaza out the game
Lauren
May 6th, 2011
9:08 pm
this is exactly why we need a center…put hilton armstrong in the game! this is just awful.
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2011
9:08 pm
What are Al and Zaza doing?
drmaryb (*_-)
May 6th, 2011
9:09 pm
Exhibit A!
Is in full effect.
O'Brien
May 6th, 2011
9:10 pm
A 2 on 1 break, and JJ floats out to the 3-pt line. I’m glad Hubie Brown called him out on it.
I like the effort from Josh on defense, and in the paint (just not his jumpers).
As for Al. I’m still waiting for him to show up. And it would help if we didnt miss 7 FT.
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
9:10 pm
Gearon time to open your wallet again to take this to the next level….Cant do it with this group..Too many holes..Chicago is dismantling your squad…Just like the regular season…
Allstar AL had been a major disappointment…Embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess the Hawks really did steal game 1?
Hawks getting killed on the boards that is the difference again with game 2 and game 3 tonight. Hawks gonna have to get a banger and a low post player to get to the next level and this team needs to make some changes in certain spots. I cant kill Josh Smith he has played better second hald and at least paying inside
STRETCH
May 6th, 2011
9:10 pm
Larry Drew keeps preaching “energy” This guy has NO clue, they dont need energy, they need to BLOCK OUT and come up with some offensive strategy! LD…COACH YOUR TEAM! Chicago came out and did what they wanted, shut JJ/JC down and everyone else just standing around. JS is STILL SHOOTING, AL/Zaza and the rest of the bigs are getting completely embarresed. Teague is the only one to show up tonight, and he’s had to handle D Rose all night!
Just saw a shot of JJ sitting on the bench looking like the kid on the playground who just lost his bag of marbles! Man, i cant wait till this season is over.
cp
May 6th, 2011
9:11 pm
once again they need stops but they have to rebound
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2011
9:11 pm
Even Al can’t show up on time to a 7 PM game. At least he finally showed up though. Way to cut down the lane.
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
9:11 pm
What has happend to Al Horford?Is he in a daze or something?Seems like he is just going through the motions
Slimjr
May 6th, 2011
9:12 pm
Nice stats for Josh:16pts,11 bds,4 assist,4 blks…..
Hey Brad who ever you are kick rocks bubba…………….
Brandon
May 6th, 2011
9:12 pm
Josh has really picked it up and been a catalyst in the second half. He’s had a few bad moments still, but for the most part, he’s had a very positive impact on the game in this second half. Al has picked it up a little bit also, but we need a lot more out of him.
It would really help if we could finish up some of those transition opportunities. I’m still baffled by the fact that Joe was running for the 3 point line on a 2-on-1 fast break earlier in the game. That made me so angry, words cannot even explain it.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 6th, 2011
9:13 pm
War!
Josh Cares! His is going to war, without them jumpers.
That is more than I can say for Al. He has stolen Marvin’s cloak, since Feb. Win or lose, I keep Josh and find a real coach for Josh and Al!
cp
May 6th, 2011
9:15 pm
thats game
J from the A
May 6th, 2011
9:15 pm
Putting the few first-half jumpers aside, Josh has really showed up today.
Ignoring the fact that Rose has went off for 40+, Teague has looked really good.
As for everyone else …
Slimjr
May 6th, 2011
9:15 pm
Allstar Al pick the worst time to wear Marvins Cloak!
41 for the mvp!! Game over……………………………..
bird
May 6th, 2011
9:16 pm
Why are playing the dang organ so the crowd can chant MVP?
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
9:16 pm
drmaryb
agree but i would keep teague and you cant get rid of Joe J this bulls team isnt all that he is going allen iverson his style of play
Lauren
May 6th, 2011
9:17 pm
Embarrassing!!!!
Slimjr
May 6th, 2011
9:17 pm
Might as well leave early and beat the traffic at Phillips…iso and jc1 have 17 pts total!!!!
Blow out…
dacheesecakeman
May 6th, 2011
9:17 pm
someone coined it right. rose on his way to 50 pts
Carlos
May 6th, 2011
9:18 pm
Some of you folks are nuts. Josh Smith does not belong in the starting line up of any playoff claiber team. At best he should be a guy to provide a defensive spark of the bench defensively.
People want to keep that loser around and he has NO offense. Inside and Outside he sucks.
Josh Smith is a bum, Horford is softer than baby schit but atleast he has a jumper.
Get rid of them both for real post players.
cp
May 6th, 2011
9:18 pm
Not showing up for game 2 might have cost them the series.
Carlos
May 6th, 2011
9:18 pm
caliber-
brigadierjerry
May 6th, 2011
9:19 pm
LD did a bad coaching job here he should’ve saw that Rose had it going early and should’ve flat out doubleteamed Rose and make the other players beat you. Also the boards have been killing the Hawks. Look at this who else is killing the Hawks other than Rose and the boards? Sometimes this team is so unpredictable it is predictable!!
Brandon
May 6th, 2011
9:20 pm
This may be the best I have ever seen rose play on the offensive end. He’s hitting everything, both from inside and outside.
In all seriousness, the Bulls really are a one-man show on the offensive end. Deng is better offensively than people give him credit for, but everyone knows that the Bulls offense is all about Rose. Lucky for the Bulls, they play such great team defense, and Rose is such a great individual player on the offensive end, that they can get away with a one-man show on offense. We are making it even worse by putting Jamal on Rose too. Honestly, I don’t even know why Jamal is still in the game. He clearly doesn’t have it going and he can’t defend Rose. Why not just put damien in the game and see how that works out?