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Rose taking long jumpers

Derrick Rose is shooting just 38 percent from the field in the playoffs, but that's due in large part to the number of 3-point shots he's hoisted.

Rose is shooting just 21.2 percent from 3-point range (11-for-52) in the postseason. On 2-point shots, his field-goal percentage is .459.

Why is he taking so many long jumpers? Rose keeps saying he has confidence in his outside shot, but he's asked to do so much for the Bulls' offense, launching a 3-point shot might simply be a way to combat fatigue during games.

Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau watched video after Thursday's practice, a common sight during the playoffs.

“I want him to read the defense,” Thibodeau said.

“If they're sagging into the paint, I want him to shoot. We want to attack better in transition, play with more pace. In those situations, the floor is open and he has more opportunities to drive the ball. He has to score a number of different ways and also run the team. He'll find a way.”

Smith vows to improve:While the Hawks headed home with one road victory over the Bulls, a popular question in Atlanta is what's going on with Josh Smith.The 6-foot-9 forward is one of the league's most explosive athletes, but Smith often settles for long jumpers and is shooting 28 percent from the field in the series.Atlanta Journal-Constituion columnist Mark Bradley provided this opinion: #8220;How good would Josh Smith be if he never took a shot beyond the lane?#8221; he wrote. #8220;If he could content himself with being, say, Paul Silas? (Who was a great player on championship teams, let's recall.) #8220;Put another way, has there ever been a less effective jump shooter who persists in taking jump shots?#8221;Smith delivered some important blocked shots in the two games at the United Center, but was unhappy with his performance.#8220;It is just frustrating because I know I can give this team a little bit more on the offensive end,#8221; Smith said in the Journal-Constitution. #8220;Right now I am not doing my part on that end. ... I think Game 3 will be a different look for me.#8221;Hitting the road:As of Thursday morning, tickets remained for both Game 3 and 4 in Atlanta. Bulls fans took over Conseco Fieldhouse for one of the first-round games, creating a clear cheering majority in a visiting arena.The Indiana example isn't likely to happen again, but the Bulls usually have good fan support during road games in Atlanta.#8220;Atlanta's kind of far,#8221; Luol Deng. #8220;I know our fans will be there. Everywhere we played this year, we had fans. They're good at home. We're going in there with a mindset it's going to be a tough game.#8221;When the Bulls crushed the Hawks 114-81 on March 22, it snapped a six-game losing streak in Atlanta.Bull horns:Luol Deng finished second to Golden State's Stephen Curry in a very close race for the NBA's sportsmanship award. Curry received 88 first-place votes and Deng 84 from fellow NBA players. Deng won the honor in 2007. ... C.J. Watson will sell #8220;Bench Mob#8221; T-shirts to benefit his charitable foundation on Friday, May 13 from 7-9 p.m. at the Fifty/50 Restaurant on Division St. in Chicago.