Official Game Thread: Hawks - Bulls

[lethalweapon3]

The Atlanta Hawks rebounded against the Knicks on Sunday to crawl out from under an eight-game slide. But will they be able to rebound at all tonight (7:30 PM Eastern, SportSouth, WGN) against the Chicago Bulls?

The Bulls (29-26; five-game streak snapped Monday at Miami; 17-8 since January 1) registered 57 and 52 rebounds in their last two wins against Atlanta (26-29), their offensive rebounding percentages (43.5% and 42.5%, respectively) the highest they’ve achieved so far this season. Last year, Tom Thibodeau’s charges piled up 59 and 53 in the last two meetings of the season, and those were with the presently-injured Al Horford starting in the middle.

In the January 4 game, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and Taj Gibson all recorded double-doubles for points and rebounds. Deng was subsequently traded, but Jimmy Butler (game-time decision tonight; bruised ribs) stepped up in the February 11 contest, contributing a season-high 13 boards to complement Gibson’s 24-and-12 and Noah’s triple-double.

Neither game included an appearance by Chicago’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Carlos Boozer (14.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG). He’ll be back in uniform tonight. Atlanta’s leading active scorer and rebounder, All-Star power forward Paul Millsap, participated in both games but won’t be suiting up tonight. His absence results in 220-pound DeMarre Carroll doing yeoman’s work once again at the power forward spot, this time against the 260-pound Boozer.

If Carroll (season-high 24 points vs. the Knicks while pestering Carmelo Anthony) and Mike Scott (career-high 30 points against NYK) can get some help from his fellow swingmen in defending Boozer in the low post, they can beat him down the floor for buckets and have another nice offensive night.

The first game had Pero Antić manning the center spot, while Gustavo Ayón played the 5 in the second game. Neither will be available tonight to help the Hawks’ cause. That puts Elton Brand in a tight spot. He’ll have to secure defensive boards without excessive fouling and help the guards push the pace in transition. The legendary Bob Rathbun notes that the 15-season veteran has logged more minutes over the last four games than in any four-game stretch in almost two years.

Dexter Pittman has been called up out of the Hawks’ unofficial D-League squad, the Austin Toros, after a five-game February spurt where the dormant center put up 16.4 PPG on 63 FG%, plus 9.8 RPG and 1.8 BPG. If for not much above six extra fouls, his participation tonight will be a virtual imperative.

Atlanta’s chances of winning this game, or at least surpassing 95 points versus Chicago for the first time since January 2012, rest in the hands of the player GameTime affectionately called “Jeff Tease.” Even with Jeff Teague’s scouting report from his former coach in hand, Raymond Fel(t)on and Tim Hardaway, Jr. could do nothing to keep the Hawks point guard from showing a little something on Sunday. Teague beat them to the rim at will, and earned a career-high 15 free throw attempts on his way to 28 points, his best scoring output in 2014.

The Bulls’ glacial pace and heady defense from ex-Hawk Kirk Hinrich won’t allow a repeat of those volumes. But he and the Hawks’ point guards can get lane penetration against Hinrich and D.J. Augustin, opening up the perimeter for Carroll, Kyle Korver, Mike Scott and Cartier Martin. According to StatVu stats, the 10.7 PPG the Hawks score whenever Teague drives ranks 5^th in the NBA.

The guards must also put pressure on Chicago’s ballhandlers, while the forwards must be ready to disrupt passes from Noah (three 10-plus-assists in his last seven games). Chicago’s 14.8 turnover percentage and 15.8 turnovers per game are each the third-highest in the league, while the Hawks rank 4^th in the league for steals (8.7 SPG).

Even with Noah and Boozer clogging the middle, forays into the paint will be beneficial for Atlanta. Even when seemingly open, two-point shots taken outside the paint are a waste of time against the Bulls. Despite the limited possessions available when playing Thibo-ball, Chicago’s opponents take 27.1 mid-range shots (3^rd most in NBA) but shoot just 37.8 FG% on them (5^th lowest in NBA).

Go Hawks!

~lw3

View the full article

[jrok23]

Maybe we can use Dexter Pittman to body up Joakim Noah.

[benhillboy]

Please let this be the last meeting with the Bulls. It seems like we can stick with everyone except them. Thibs' defense is the arch enemy to the Spurs "motion!" I guess. Open shots we get against the 90% of the league are somehow smothered, with the passing lane cut off.

[DJlaysitup]

Great stuff as usual lw3 !

Maybe we can use Dexter Pittman to body up Joakim Noah.

Get em Dexter !! Go Hawks!

[Camouflage]

Nice write up preview. Go hawks

[Dnice]

So Carroll is at the 4 tonight.

[DrReality]

So Carroll is at the 4 tonight.

That could make it a long night with their bigs.

[Dnice]

Survived it so far.

[capstone21]

Interesting that the season is lost and now we are playing well.

[Dnice]

Teague's back to ball pounding.

[benhillboy]

We needed that 3 in the worst way. Again, we can score on anybody (I'm sure Thibs, like Vogel and Spoelstra, is scratching his head at the total), but allowed 54 to the worst scoring team in the league.

Edited February 26, 2014 by benhillboy

[nimbers]

We are getting killed on the glass. I wish we would get some bigs. -tito

[MrMeltdown]

Mack does not need to be dominating the ball with Teague on the court

[Dnice]

Allergic to offensive boards.

[jrok23]

I mean with carrol at the 4 what did you expect.

[benhillboy]

Mike with the three off the pass fake. Wasnt it widely thought Noah wouldn't be that good coming out? He's great and seemingly getting better.

[benhillboy]

Pittman out there battling, got Scott two tips on the glass. I love it!

[DrReality]

Pittman needs to muscle up to have a chance. Gotta love Scott

[GameTime]

Pittman out there battling, got Scott two tips on the glass. I love it!

Already better than Ayón.

[taz]

Jesus Christ Jeff Teague