Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks: What Game Told Us About 2 Potential Contenders

It was an ugly game, whichever team you were cheering for. It was a thrilling, pulse-pounding, fourth quarter, whichever team you were cheering for. 

It was also a rematch of last year's playoff and a potential preview of a matchup in this year's playoff scenario. The Bulls came back and beat the Hawks behind the fourth-quarter theatrics of Derrick Rose. 

In the end, it was a win that could leave Bulls fans feeling bad and a loss that might leave Hawks fans feeling good. 

Here are three things we learned about each team form this fantastic game. 

Joe Johnson Needs to Step Up

Joe Jonnson is the highest paid player, and one would think that accordingly, the biggest star on Atlanta. He's come up short of that in late-game situations, though. 

Johnson failed to score a single clutch time point last night, and in 10 clutch time minutes this year, he has only scored one basket. It's not just this year, either. He scored at the same rate last year. 

If the Hawks want to go far in the finals, they need a go-to guy, and Johnson is the best option, but he needs to learn to become the man. 

Ronnie Brewer Isn't Ready to Start

After his brilliant performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was guarded by Tony Allen, arguably the best defender at his position in the league, there was a lot of hope for Ronnie Brewer, and some wondered whether he should be starting over Rip Hamilton.

Last night was a big reminder. While Brewer has surely progressed, he's not yet the shooting guard who can be counted on to take the pressure off of Derrick Rose when he needs it. 

Brewer gets a lot of credit for improving his game, but Richard Hamilton needs to remain the starter. 

The Hawks Zone Defense Is Legit

The night after shutting down the Miami Heat offense, the Hawks came into the United Center with their zone defense, and for three quarters, made life miserable (or should we say miser-a-bull?) for Chicago.

ESPN reports on their Elias Sports Bureau page,

"

Chicago had only 42 points through three quarters, the lowest total entering the fourth quarter by a winning team in the shot-clock era. Prior to Tuesday, the lowest point total through three quarters for a winning team was 44 by Cleveland on January 2, 2007 and Boston on February 26, 2007.

"

That's statisticese for really good defense. 

Luol Deng Is Ready to Be a Star

Luol Deng has now played a pivotal role in both of the Bulls' come-from-behind victories this short season. Last year during the postseason, there was some question as to who could step up or would step up when Rose needed help.

In the early season, it looks like Deng has decided to accept that challenge. In fact, you could almost argue that Deng has been as important as Rose late in games, whether he's drawing fouls, creating shots, making huge defensive plays or making the game-winning shot. 

The Hawks Are Real Contenders

If you tell me that two days ago, you predicted the Hawks would nearly come off of back-to-back wins in Miami and Chicago and have an overall plus-seven margin of victory over those two games, I would either say you're either a genius, a liar or an idiot. More than likely one of the latter two.

The Hawks, though, proved themselves. They came toe-to-toe with the two best teams in the East and nearly came out with two wins. They have to, at the very least, be considered a dark horse to win it all now. 

Derrick Rose Is Not Ready to Relinquish His MVP Award

What Derrick Rose did was extraordinary. It was something that you reserve for Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. The way he rallied his team in the third quarter will be overlooked, but it is as much a reason they won as they played. 

This was a game where even the unflappable Luol Deng got a technical and was lucky he didn't get another when he kicked the ball later in the game. The entire team was frustrated with their own performance, and it had a compounding effect. 

After Rose's pep-talk, though, the team believed in itself again, and suddenly, they could do no wrong. 

Rose showed he's the Most Valuable Player in the league and that he's not ready to concede the award this year just because the Bulls won't be the best story.