Bulls vs. Hawks: Who has the edge?
While Bulls fans are quite familiar with Jamal Crawford, Kirk Hinrich and Joe Johnson, here's a more precise breakdown of the differences between the Bulls and the Hawks, along with a prediction of how long it will take Derrick Rose and the Bulls to win this second-round series.
Star power
The Hawks had two all-stars this season, SG Joe Johnson and PF Al Horford, but no one who has ever made the kind of impact Derrick Rose (at left) did during an MVP season. Johnson averaged fewer than 20 points for the first time in six seasons with Atlanta. SF Josh Smith, a presumptive defensive player-of-the-year candidate, also took a step back.
Edge: Bulls
Outside shooting
These teams are close to even in frequency and accuracy of 3-point shots. Both averaged 6-for-17 per game from 3-point land during the regular season. In the first round, each team had one guy get hot from long range: Jamal Crawford for Atlanta (17-for-37) and Kyle Korver for the Bulls (10-for-17).Edge: EvenDefenseThis category is no shocker. The Bulls ranked first in the league in defensive field-goal percentage (.430) and second in points allowed (91.3). Atlanta wasn't bad in points allowed, ranking ninth (95.0), but the Hawks were 18th in opponents shooting percentage (.460). The Hawks also were near the bottom in blocked shots and were second to last in the league in forcing turnovers.Edge: BullsReboundsThe Bulls outrebounded Atlanta in all three regular-season matchups, sometimes by a large amount. Overall, the Bulls were plus-42 in rebound margin against the Hawks. Atlanta was one of the league's worst teams in grabbing offensive rebounds, the Bulls one of the best.Edge: BullsBall controlAtlanta hadn't been a high-assist team in recent years but pushed its way to ninth in the league this season with a balanced passing attack, led by Joe Johnson at 4.7 per game. The Hawks turned the ball over slightly less than the Bulls. Edge: EvenBenchThe Hawks will scramble the lineup with usual starter Kirk Hinrich sidelined by a hamstring injury. They also used a bigger lineup against Orlando's Dwight Howard in the first round. Against the Bulls in the regular season, they usually used a front line of Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. Jamal Crawford (at left) has been very good at the instant-offense role off the bench, winning the sixth man award a year ago. The Bulls' bench was valuable all season, then couldn't get rolling in fewer minutes against the Pacers.Edge: HawksCoachingAtlanta fired Mike Woodson after he led the team to the second round of the playoffs two years in a row but was swept both times. Veteran assistant Larry Drew stepped in and didn't win as many games in the regular season but managed to beat Orlando in the first round. Tom Thibodeau, the NBA's 2011 coach of the year, hasn't missed much in his first season as a head coach in the league.Edge: BullsMcGraw's prediction: Bulls in five gamesno sales13661976Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers power forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday at the United Center in Chicago.Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.comno salesBKN13172262Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford (11) shoots as Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, defends in the second quarter during Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 24, 2011, in Atlanta.Associated PressBKNBKN21922648Atlanta Hawks head coach Larry Drew calls a play in the third quarter during Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Orlando Magic, Sunday, April 24, 2011, in Atlanta.Associated PressBKN