The Hawks may have gained more than the usual “W” Thursday as they ripped the NBA’s worst team. In the Bulls, they’re about to play one of the best, so routing the 76ers might have set the Hawks’ minds right.
Chicago (22-12) has won six straight to move to No. 2 in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavs, and the Hawks (22-15) might not have been a fair match Saturday afternoon without the tonic of that 126-98 win at Philadelphia.
Consecutive losses to the sub-.500 Knicks, and three losses in four games, left the Hawks blue.
“Just getting in the win column, and getting your confidence back [was big],” said point guard Jeff Teague. “Guys seeing shots going in, and we played at a high level … [The Bulls] are getting familiar with one another. New coaching staff, and I think guys are catching a groove.”
They’re also leaving opponents black and blue.
First-year coach Fred Hoiberg's squad leads the NBA in defensive field goal percentage (.416), although they're 12th in points allowed (99.7)
Even without injured center Joakim Noah, who'll miss his 12th game with a sprained left shoulder, the Bulls have size aplenty in Pau Gasol (7 feet), Taj Gibson (6-9), Nikola Mirotic (6-10) in the starting lineup.
Chicago also is No. 1 in field goal defense inside five feet, (53.7 percent).
That doesn’t mean the Hawks won’t attack. Al Horford and Paul Millsap will be busy.
“Hopefully, our bigs … can pull them away from the rim, and when we pull them away from the rim either other people are able to finish because they’re not there, or we can attack them and drive them from the perimeter,” said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer.
“Having Al and Paul, who can step out and make shots, make plays … you don’t want to become dependent on jump shooting but at some point you’ve got to pull them away from the basket.”
Shooting guard Jimmy Butler continues to ascend for the Bulls. Scoring 22 points per game in a variety of ways, he’s had quite a bit of help.
Gasol has put up 19 double-doubles, including 17 points and 18 rebounds in a Thursday win over Boston. He’s also sixth in the league in blocked shots (2.3), and disrupts more than that.
Gibson and Noah block more than a shot per game, as well.
Mirotic is a different sort.
The second-year player out of Montenegro is big, yet while averaging 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, he’s become the Bulls’ leading 3-point shooter by volume.
Rookie forward Bobby Portis, who’s 6-11, is giving Chicago double-digit minutes and even more length.
Teague said there’s a plan for that.
“They challenge you at the rim. We’ve got to get to the rim, make plays for one another,” he said. “Our bigs are really going to have to be able to space the floor, and get up and down, make it an up-tempo game. They’ve got bigger guys. I’m not going to say they’re slow up-and-down, but I think we can use our speed to our advantage.”
