2010-2011 Game Preview #70: Bulls at Atlanta Hawks

[A back-to-back preview for Tim S.! Oddly placed national TV game (due to the NCAA Tournament), TNT at 7. -ed.]

We've seen the Atlanta Hawks twice recently, in Atlanta on March 2 and in Chicago on March 11.  The Bulls coulda, woulda, shoulda beat them the first time but the Hawks came back at home behind one of Hawks center Al Horford's best games and one of Rose's worst. 

The Bulls beat the Hawks handily the second time in Chicago.  The Bulls played great defense on Horford.  Hawks point guard Kirk Hinrich played Rose well again in the first half of that game, but Rose responded by driving to the basket repeatedly until Hinrich accumulated enough fouls that he had to sit -- and then Rose really went to town on backups Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford.

This is the rubber match, the last of three games against Atlanta, and the Bulls should be highly motivated to show they can win in Atlanta.  Although the Bulls played last night and the Hawks did not, the Bulls' game was a blow out and I would hope they will feel rested.  I'll take a closer look after the jump.

Although the Hawks have experimented with starting sophomore point guard Teague over Hinrich since the last game against Chicago, Teague has not been consistent and did not play at all in the Hawks' last game against Detroit on Sunday.  I'm guessing the Hawks will start Hinrich, who knows Rose's tendencies well.  Then again, Rose knows Hinrich as well, and let's hope he has figured out how to get him in foul trouble again.  Let's also see if Rose gets the same calls in Atlanta that he got in Chicago.

Whether Hinrich or Teague starts, it is likely that Crawford will spend some time at point, because the Hawks need both shooting guard Joe Johnson and Crawford to provide offense.  Rose should go to town whenever Crawford guards him because Crawford does not like to play defense.

As for Horford, the Bulls have plenty of big bodies to throw at him now, and will presumably focus on neutralizing the Hawks' best player (although not the best-paid player, right Joe Johnson?).  Power forward Josh Smith and Johnson did not have good games in Chicago, but they are capable of turning it around in Atlanta.  Josh Smith was great last year, right up there with Horford, but this year he fell back in love with his outside shot.  Small forward Marvin Williams can also have a good game from time to time.  Zaza Pechulia is an okay backup center, although the Bulls should thrive any time Horford is out of the game. 

In general, the Hawks' second unit is no match for the Bulls' second unit, perhaps the best in the league.  Asik, in particular, is getting better and better.  If Noah has any trouble at all with Horford, Thibs should not hesitate to bring in Asik.

The Hawks have either regressed this year or several other teams have passed them by.  On Hollinger's power rankings, if not in the standings, the 76ers and even the struggling Knicks have passed them by, while the Bulls have zoomed to the head of the Eastern Conference.  Although the Hawks beat Detroit by eight on Sunday, before that they lost at home 87-102 to Denver and 85-106 to Miami, prompting Horford to call a players-only meeting on Saturday.  Joe Johnson must wonder whether the extra money was worth passing up the chance to play with the Bulls. 

Nevertheless, the Hawks will want to show they can beat the best on their home court, Horford will want to play well against his old buddy Noah, and the Bulls had better play for all 48 minutes.  I trust that the memories of the March 2 loss are still fresh and the Bulls will take care of business.