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Top-seeded Bulls aim for 3-1 lead over Hawks

May 8, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Chicago finally imposed its will on Friday. Now, the Bulls will attempt to seize control of their Eastern Conference semifinals set with the Atlanta Hawks when the two teams square off in Game 4 at Philips Arena.

NBA MVP Derrick Rose provided most of Chicago's offense with a career-high 44 points to go with seven assists in Game 3, carrying the Bulls over Atlanta, 99-82.

"I was just attacking the whole game. That was my whole process coming in, trying to get myself going and get my teammates going," Rose said.

Rose, who shot 39 percent from the floor and committed 11 turnovers over the first two games of the series, shot 16-of-27 on Friday and turned it over just twice to give the Bulls the 2-1 series lead.

"He's tough to cover anyway, but when his jump shot is falling, he's the MVP," Atlanta guard Jeff Teague said of Rose.

"Derrick was in attack mode, obviously. He was attacking from the start," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau added. "When he's attacking, and not dancing with the ball, he's impossible to stop. He caught it on the run and kept going. He wasn't playing around or letting them catch up."

Taj Gibson was a spark off the bench with 13 points and 11 rebounds -- seven on the offensive end -- while fellow reserve Kyle Korver provided 11 points for Chicago, which shot 10-of-20 from three-point range.

Joakim Noah made up for a 1- for-8 shooting night with five blocks and 15 rebounds, helping Chicago own the glass by a 47-34 margin.

Conversely, the Hawks made just 1-of-6 from long distance, as sharpshooters Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford were once again held in check for a combined 17 points.

"It's tough to beat us when we're playing good defense and tonight we did," Rose said.

Teague, starting in place of the injured Kirk Hinrich, led Atlanta with 21 points, while Josh Smith totaled 17 points, 13 boards and four blocks in defeat. Johnson, Al Horford and Marvin Williams each netted 10 points for the Hawks, who never led in the game.

"They beat us up, completely beat us up," Atlanta head coach Larry Drew said. "You have to play this team with an energy. You have to match their physicality ... You have to be ready to make it a war for 48 minutes."

Drew was especially upset that his starters were called for only one foul in the first half. Normally a coach would be thrilled by that but Drew felt his team wasn't making things difficult for Rose.

"You're not going to win many games if you don't play physical and get some fouls," he said. "I'm not saying hurt people. But you've got to get physical fouls. It's the playoffs."

The Bulls won two of three from Atlanta in the regular season. All three games took place over a three-week span in March with the Hawks lone win by three points at Philips Arena. Conversely, the Bulls two wins (one at home and one in Dixie) were by 18 and 33 points.

The teams have met four times previously in the postseason dating back to 1966-67 when the Hawks called St. Louis home. Each club has taken two series, the Hawks in '66-67 and '69-70 and the Bulls in '92-93 and '96-97.

Game 5 of the set will be back in Chicago on Tuesday.