Hawks-Bulls Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Feb 20 2012 4:00PM

It appears Derrick Rose is nearing a return from back spasms, but whether it happens in one of the Chicago Bulls' final two games before the All-Star break remains to be seen.

The NBA's reigning MVP could be back after a five-game absence Monday when the Bulls host the Atlanta Hawks.

Rose increased his activity in practice Friday, but did not play Saturday in Chicago's 97-85 loss to New Jersey. The Bulls fell to 7-3 without him, including five games he missed last month due to a toe problem.

Coach Tom Thibodeau said Saturday that Rose is "doing fine" with his latest ailment but has to "get the conditioning up to speed." It's not certain if he'll play Monday or Wednesday against Milwaukee - the team's final two games before the break.

While Chicago (25-8) has typically played well without its superstar, Rose's teammates looked lost in Saturday's home defeat. The Nets opened the game with a 22-3 run and the Bulls never mounted a serious rally while shooting 39.3 percent.

"We had a bad day," said Luol Deng, who had 14 points. "We've got no excuses. We played terrible, but it's over with."

Chicago hasn't lost consecutive games this season, and the team may need a better outing from Joakim Noah to continue that trend. The big man had stepped up in Rose's absence, averaging 17.5 points and 12.5 rebounds the previous four games before going scoreless with six rebounds in 21 minutes Saturday.

In two games against Atlanta this season, Noah has totaled three points - shooting 0 of 8 from the field - and eight rebounds, continuing his career-long struggles versus the Hawks. He has averaged 5.2 points on 33.3 percent shooting in 13 meetings, although he has usually encountered Al Horford in the paint.

Noah's former Florida teammate remains out with a torn pectoral muscle, and Atlanta will also be missing forward Marvin Williams following a death in his family.

Rose has found more success in the series. While he was held to eight points in the Hawks' 109-94 home victory Jan. 7, he scored at least 30 in each of the previous three meetings, including the Bulls' 76-74 win in Chicago on Jan. 3 - when Atlanta blew a 19-point lead in the final 14 minutes.

The Hawks (19-12) return to the United Center having lost three of four and six of nine overall. They have averaged 87.0 points during nine February contests, scoring fewer than 80 in three of them, including a 97-77 loss at Portland on Saturday.

Atlanta got off to a hot start, connecting on 12 of 18 shots in the first quarter, but it made just 18 the rest of the game and was outrebounded 50-27.

"Tonight was just one of those nights where the energy level just wasn't up where it needed to be," guard Joe Johnson said.

The Hawks have struggled when facing some of the league's better teams. They've lost three straight against opponents with winning records, falling to 5-11 in such games - with eight of the defeats by double digits.

Johnson has averaged just 13.6 points in those 11 losses while shooting 38.9 percent. He's averaged 13.5 points against the Bulls this season, shooting 3 of 17 in the loss at Chicago.

While the Hawks will try to reverse that troubling trend, Chicago may not be too eager to play another afternoon game. The Bulls dropped to 1-4 in matinées after Saturday's tilt against the Nets, and they've averaged 88.8 points while losing four straight since defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.

Rose scores 23, Bulls hang on to beat Hawks 90-79

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Posted Feb 20 2012 8:12PM

CHICAGO (AP) Between the nasty crossovers and fearless drives, Derrick Rose's back problems appear to be in the past - a very good thing for the Chicago Bulls.

As deep as their roster is, they need their superstar.

Rose scored 23 points in his return from a five-game absence due to back pain, and Chicago hung on to beat the struggling Atlanta Hawks 90-79 on Monday.

Rose looked sharp and helped the Bulls play more like championship contenders after a brutal loss to New Jersey two days earlier. They led by 18 through the first quarter and were up 55-37 at halftime, but found themselves hanging on in the end after a big push by Atlanta.

The Bulls were clinging to an 85-79 lead after a late 3-pointer by Jannero Pargo before Luol Deng nailed a 3 of his own to make it a nine-point game. Rose then buried a turnaround jumper on Pargo to make it 90-79 with 2:10 remaining and Chicago prevailed, sending Atlanta to its seventh loss in 10 games.

Rose also had six assists and five rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 16 points, Ronnie Brewer had 13, and Deng and John Lucas 10 apiece. Joakim Noah chipped in with 16 rebounds.

"Having (Rose) back just opens up everything," Noah said. "He was very aggressive tonight. When he's aggressive like that, it opens up everything for everybody, and it gives us a lot of confidence."

Rose did not make himself available for comment afterward. Coach Tom Thibodeau said his conditioning is "not where it usually is," but the explosiveness was there.

"Overall, I was very pleased," he said. "Derrick said he felt really good out there."

Pargo, a Chicago native who previously played for the Bulls, provided a big spark off the bench for Atlanta with a season-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Josh Smith added 17 points and 12 rebounds, but Joe Johnson (12 points) sat out the fourth quarter because of recurring tendinitis in his left knee.

The Hawks showed little life in the early going after being blown out by Portland on Sunday and paid for it in the end.

"We as a team, sometimes, we come out and play with a sense of urgency; sometimes we don't," coach Larry Drew said. "That's something we've done this year. You can't play like that.

"Nobody is to blame, but everybody is to blame," he added. "We all have to put ourselves in one foxhole and figure it out together."

The Hawks were without Marvin Williams, who missed the game because of a death in the family, but it's hard to believe he would have made that big a difference with the way the Bulls played early on.

Coming off one of their ugliest performances in two seasons under Thibodeau, they quickly rediscovered their form.

Rose was his usual explosive self, whether he was freezing Jeff Teague with a wicked crossover or burying jumpers. He scored nine in the first quarter as the Bulls grabbed a 35-17 lead, and he had plenty of help with Deng and Brewer each adding seven points. It was a big difference from Saturday, when Chicago fell behind 22-3 and never recovered.

Of course, this time, the Bulls had their best player. That the Bulls are 7-3 without Rose is a testament to their depth, but the players realize they need him if they're going to achieve their ultimate goal.

Chicago is eyeing a championship after winning 62 games on the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season, and they're dominating again even though Rose and veteran guard Richard Hamilton have missed significant time because of injuries.

The Bulls insisted they wouldn't rush Rose back. He had increased his activity in practice but still was a game-time decision on Monday.

"Who we're playing had nothing to do with it," Thibodeau said. "He felt he was 100 percent and he could go. He was cleared medically to do it. We'll just go from there. He said he felt well out there."

Notes: Drew said he met with Tracy McGrady to discuss his comments after Sunday's loss at Portland and that it was handled "in-house." McGrady made it clear he was upset about a lack of playing time, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I'm tired of this (garbage)." ... Hamilton (right thigh) remained sidelined for Chicago. The Bulls were also without backup point guard C.J. Watson, who left in the third quarter of Saturday's loss to New Jersey after taking a blow to the head from the Nets' Kris Humphries.

Notebook: Bulls 90, Hawks 79

Posted Monday February 20, 2012 7:49PM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: With guard Derrick Rose back after a five-game absence due to back spasms, the Chicago Bulls defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks 90-79 Monday. Rose played 35 minutes and scored 23 points with five rebounds and six assists, although he did appear to be in pain occasionally during the second half. Carlos Boozer added 16 points and Joakim Noah had 16 rebounds for the Bulls. Reserve guard Jannero Pargo, a former Bull, led the Hawks with 19 points. Joe Johnson played only 21 minutes for Atlanta because of a knee injury.

THE FACTS II: The Hawks trailed the entire second half, most of it by double digits, but closed to within five points late in the fourth quarter at 84-79. But the Bulls held Atlanta scoreless the last 3:24 of the game.

QUOTABLE: "His explosiveness was there. His drive to the basket was there. Overall I was very pleased."
-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau on the return of Rose.

THE STAT: The Bulls outrebounded the Hawks in the first half, 30-13. The Bulls had 13 offensive boards to just one for Atlanta, and Noah almost outrebounded the Hawks himself with 11 boards in the first half.

THE STAT II: The Hawks were 10 for 21 from the free throw line.

TURNING POINT: The Bulls went on a 23-4 run in the first quarter with Rose getting his nine points, including a pair of three-pointers. They maintained their double-digit lead until the end of the game.

INJURY UPDATE: Rose played for the first time in six games after suffering from back spasms. Bulls guard C.J. Watson missed the game due to concussion-like symptoms resulting from a collision with New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries on Saturday. Atlanta's Johnson left the game with a knee injury early in the second half and did not return. Hawks starting forward Marvin Williams missed the game due to personal reasons.

HOT: The Bulls' backup point guards continue to support the team in the face of injuries to Rose and Watson. Mike James and John Lucas III combined for 17 points in 26 minutes of play.

QUOTABLE II: "We're trying to get our team back together."
-- Bulls forward Luol Deng, talking about the return of Rose.

NOTABLE: The Bulls have not lost two regular season games in a row since Feb. 5-7 of last season. They have won after each of their last 12 regular season losses.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, vs. Bucks Wednesday, vs. Hornets Friday, vs. Hornets Feb. 28. For the Hawks, @ Knicks Wednesday, vs. Magic Thursday, vs. Warriors Feb. 29.

• Hawks: Collins, Horford
• Bulls: Watson

• Hawks: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #11 Derrick Collins, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 22033
• Duration: 2:35