Joe Johnson went 5-of-5 from beyond the arc en route to 34 points, as the Atlanta Hawks used a strong fourth quarter to take down the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, 103-95, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Bulls Vs. Hawks, Game 1: Chicago Fans Wake Up To ‘A Real Opponent’
The Bulls’ Game 1 loss to the Hawks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series opener didn’t go the way Chicago fans had hoped, and that’s part of why Blog-a-Bull is re-evaluating the Hawks as “a real opponent” after Monday night.
Read Article >Derrick Rose Wins NBA MVP In Bulls Loss, Which May Not Be Coincidence

Getty ImagesMidway through Monday night’s Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks game, reports began to surface that Derrick Rose had won the 2011 NBA MVP. An hour later, Derrick Rose was limping off the court, and the Bulls had lost Game 1 to the Hawks.
Such is life in the NBA Playoffs right now, where nothing makes sense, and you’re probably better off betting on the exact opposite of what you expect to happen. For instance, after that Bulls-Hawks game, was there any doubt that the Lakers would blow their game vs. Dallas?
Read Article >Derrick Rose Earns Zero Free Throws In Bulls’ Loss, Which Is A Problem
In Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks, Rose had zero free throw attempts. The Bulls lost, and Rose was the least efficient player on the floor despite taking a third of his team’s shots.
To wit, in the regular season, Rose averaged 0.97 points per field goal attempt. Add in free throws with the commonly accepted understanding that each free throw represent 0.44 “trips to the line” -- it accounts for and-1s -- and Rose’s points per shooting possession rises to 1.1. That’s the difference between inefficient and pretty efficient. For a guy with about 30 shooting possessions per game, that’s the difference between 29 points and 33 points. It’s a big difference.
Read Article >Bulls Vs. Hawks, Game 1: Jeff Teague Made Impact In Atlanta Win
Johnson was the hero, as usual, but Peachtree Hoops wants you to know that Jeff Teague might have been the MVP.
Read Article >Derrick Rose Twists Ankle On Final Play Of Hawks-Bulls Game
Rose originally hurt his ankle during Chicago’s first round series against Indiana. He went to the locker room to have the ankle checked out in that game but later returned. Rose appeared to wear down some in that first round series as he was forced to carry a heavy burden offensively. This ankle injury appears to be something that will linger on throughout the rest of the playoffs. With home court advantage lost to the Hawks, Chicago can ill-afford to lose Rose now for any significant time.
Be sure to check out our Bulls vs. Hawks hub for full series coverage. For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Read Article >Bulls Vs. Hawks Final Score: Atlanta Holds Off Chicago 103-95
Be sure to check out our Bulls vs. Hawks hub for full series coverage. For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Read Article >Bulls Vs. Hawks Score: Atlanta Preserves Narrow Lead After 3rd Quarter
Be sure to check out our Bulls vs. Hawks hub for full series coverage. For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Read Article >Bulls Vs. Hawks Score: Chicago Battles Back, But Down At Halftime, 51-50
Be sure to check out our Bulls vs. Hawks hub for full series coverage. For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Read Article >Bulls Vs. Hawks, Game 1: Derrick Rose’s Championship Quest Continues, But Atlanta Poses Challenge
Game 1 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. Be sure to check out our Bulls vs. Hawks hub for full series coverage. For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
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