NBA Playoffs – Eastern Conference Semi-Finals – Game 2:
Derrick Rose was awarded the 2010-11 Most Valuable Player award by NBA commissioner David Stern prior to tip-off for Game 2 against Atlanta. The league’s youngest recipient of the MVP trophy in history would not be distracted and neither would his teammates, as they sought to avoid going down 0-2 in the series.
After a disappointing Game 1 loss, the Bulls came out with a renewed mindset defensively against Hawks’ swing-man Joe Johnson— who went 5-of-5 from three-point range in the first game of the series. The Bulls created a wall on the defensive end for the Hawks’ star, and held Johnson to only one made three-point field goal (16 points and only one assist). It was Jeff Teague who hurt the Bulls in Game 2. He had an excellent game on both ends of the floor with three steals, two blocked shots, three assists and 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
But poor shooting from Jamal Crawford, Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams would do the Hawks in, on Wednesday night.
Joakim Noah and Luol Deng would lead the Bulls’ defensive effort to hold the Hawks to 33% field goal shooting.
As a team, the Bulls pounded Atlanta on the glass— out-rebounding their undersized front-line by the margin of 58-39.
League MVP Derrick Rose finished with 25 points, 10 assists and six rebounds but had eight turnovers.
Luol Deng had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Joakim Noah was incredibly active throughout the game.
Noah boasted a statline of 19 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, two assists and a blocked shot.
The Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 86-73.
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