NBA Playoffs 2011: Chicago Bulls Have a Good Match Up with Atlanta Hawks
The Chicago Bulls finally begin their second round series against the Atlanta Hawks tonight in Chicago. Bulls fans should be plenty excited as it has been six days since the last game.
The Bulls begin this series after defeating the Indiana Pacers in five games. Atlanta comes into Chicago after beating the Orlando Magic in six games.
This matchup with Atlanta is a good one for the Bulls. Chicago should be able to handle the Hawks' perimeter players and Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson should be able to minimize the impact of Al Horford.
Jason Collins played as well as could be expected against Dwight Howard in the first round, but with the Bulls not having a low-post scoring center they can dump the ball down to, Collins' effectiveness may be lowered.
For the Bulls, they will need to space the floor for likely-MVP Derrick Rose and start knocking down their perimeter shots. Against the Pacers, the Bulls struggled to hit open jump shots and it made for a hard time attacking the rim for Rose.
Although Rose averaged 12 free throws a game in the series, it was not without punishment. Every time he went to the rim he was pounded relentlessly by the Pacers bigs.
The Bulls caught fire in the series finale against Indiana and will need that hot shooting to carry over against the Hawks.
Carlos Boozer was injured in the last game against Indiana, but will give it a go in Game 1. Boozer struggled against Indiana and will need to find his rhythm going forward.
Much of Boozer's struggles came from the fact that he found himself in early foul trouble often. Only playing a few minutes and then having to sit for long periods of time threw him off and he was never able to establish himself down low.
The Bulls perimeter players need to do a better job of seeking out Boozer for touches in the paint. He can not score inside if he does not get the shots.
Chicago allowed Indiana to get a lot of offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities. The Bulls are usually a great defensive rebounding team, but Indiana's size and hustle seemed to give the Bulls problems.
In order to make quick work of the Hawks, the Bulls will have to control the glass and not allow Atlanta to have a lot of second chance opportunities. That is how the Pacers hung with the Bulls for five games.
In the regular season the Bulls outplayed the Hawks by a wide margin in two games and outplayed them in the other game in the first half. The Bulls will need to come out sharp in Game 1 and establish the rhythm and tempo for the rest of the series.
Prediction: Bulls in 5
