Hawks vs. Bulls: Video Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Grades

Derrick Rose's return from injury turned out to be a triumphant one for the Chicago Bulls, to the tune of a 90-79 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Monday. The Bulls dominated the action for most of the game, with a brief Hawks breath of life between the late third and early fourth quarter serving as a respite from the overall monotony of the afternoon.

The win solidified Chicago's record at 26-8, second-best in the Eastern Conference, while dropping Atlanta to sixth place at 19-13.

Tweets of the Night

David Axelrod must really be enjoying life now that he's no longer the senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Now, he has enough free time on his hands to sit back, relax and tweet about his beloved Bulls:

"

President's Day matinee at the United Center.With D-Rose back in the lineup, the Bulls roll up 35 points in the 1st quarter.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 20, 2012"

Apparently, poor attendance and squandered talent aren't the only categories in which the Hawks pace the NBA, at least according to Adam Reisinger of ESPN.com:

"

Between T-Mac, Stackhouse and Dampier, the Hawks lead the league in "Wait, that guy is still in the NBA" guys.

— Adam Reisinger (@TheAkronHammer) February 20, 2012"

How about another crack at T-Mac, courtesy of "Bill Walton"?

"

T-Mac lashed out at his coaches. This surprised them, not because they were attacked but because they didn't realize he was still alive.

— The Bill Walton Trip (@NotBillWalton) February 20, 2012"

Must-See Highlight

Is there any better finisher in the NBA today than Derrick Rose? This drive and finish was so good that it prompted none other than Doris Burke to stop herself mid-thought with a rather subtle "wow."

Grades for Key Hawks Players

Joe Johnson: B-

I can't go too hard on Joe Johnson, if only because he left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Johnson chipped in 12 points and four assists before heading to the locker room in the second half. 

Josh Smith: B+

Another game, another loaded stat line for Josh Smith. J-Smoove piled up 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in 46 minutes for the Hawks on Monday.

Unfortunately, it took him 21 shots—of which he made only seven—to get those aforementioned 17 points, so Smith gets marked down somewhat for his lack of efficiency.

Grades for Key Bulls Players

Derrick Rose: B+

Rose gets an "A" for effort, but a B+ overall thanks to four turnovers and four missed free throws. Still, kudos to the reigning MVP for pouring in 23 points, five rebounds and six assists in his first game back from back spasms.

Luol Deng: B

Luol Deng had himself a solid outing against the Hawks as well. The Bulls' other All-Star finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Although his 4-for-15 shooting left much to be desired. 

Deciding Factor: Injuries

The Bulls benefited tremendously from D-Rose's return to active duty on the roster. Chicago finally had its leader again after five games missed on account of back spasms and looked much sharper for it—particularly on offense.

The Hawks, on the other hand, looked listless without Marvin Williams, who was absent on account of a death in the family, and had difficulty sustaining their run to close the gap in the score during the second half. 

Stat of the Night: 10

That's how many free throws the Hawks converted in 21 attempts. A few more, and the result may very well have been more favorable for Atlanta.

Game MVP: Rose

Again, 23 points, five rebounds and six assists—not a bad line for the league MVP to put up after sitting out for five games. Rose's presence in the Bulls' banged-up backcourt made a clear difference, even against a subpar squad like the Hawks.

What's Next?

After getting rolled by D-Rose, the Hawks will have to find a way to slow down Linsanity when they face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

As for the Bulls, they'll welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to the United Center that very same day.

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