Game 6:  Chicago Bulls AT Atlanta Hawks
May 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM EST
Opening Line:  CHI -3.5
Current Line:  CHI -3.5
Opening Moneyline:  CHI -165, ATL +145
Current Moneyline:  CHI -160, ATL +140
Opening Total:  179
Current Total:  178.5

Bulls Lead Series 3-2

Someone had to take the series edge after game 5, and while it wasn’t the Hawks, they are far from considering themselves out of a series that only requires them to win two straight to advance to face the seemingly undefeatable Heat.

Jeff Teague has been impressing people all series after spending two years in Atlanta in relative obscurity behind first Mike Bibby and then Kirk Hinrich.  He’s played better than both have ever played for the Hawks.  “If we get this win,” Teague said in reference to tonight’s game, “I think there’s a good chance we’ll get Game 7. I feel like there would be a lot of pressure on them playing at home in Game 7. I think we could come in there a little more free, just come in and play our game. It would be interesting.”

Teague was the only Atlanta starter to shoot above 50% from the field in game 5, as he went 8 of 11 from the floor and 5 of 7 from the line en route to a team high 21 points.  Jamal Crawford was once again abysmal from the floor (1 of 9) and if it weren’t for Teague’s improved play the Hawks would have already been sent home.

While Teague has thrived on offense, nothing he has tried defensively on Rose has worked.  While Rose had been inefficient at times in the series, he made 11 of 24 shots Thursday night and got to the line 13 times.  He also dropped 9 dimes while committing only 2 turnovers.  If he plays with that kind of efficiency every night it will be difficult to beat the Bulls.

Even with the Bulls receiving minimal scoring efforts from Boozer, they have been able to keep pace with and outscore the Hawks.  They’re going to need Boozer to step it up, however, if they want to get past the Heat in the next round.  Boozer believes in the Bulls and thinks the playoffs are supposed to be this way — close.

“No matter the situation, down or up, we believe,” Boozer said. “They’re a good team. They’re aren’t going to be too many times in the playoffs when you blow a team out. In the course of a game there are going to be waves. … This is two very good teams battling things out.”

Ronnie Brewer knows the Bulls have their work cut out for them when they’re not in the United Center.  “When we go to Atlanta,”  Brewer said, “our crowd’s not going to be there. So we’ve got to find the passion and intensity that it takes to win.”

Josh Smith had a minor altercation with Boozer last game following a dunk celebration but the league took no action in fining or suspending either player.  Smith just dismissed the incident as part and parcel of being in an intense series.

“It’s a physical game, man,” Smith commented Wednesday following shoot around. “You’re going to scratch and claw and do whatever you can to win this series. You might even do a little something extra. It was a little cheap shot by him, but it is what it is. I think it got handled and dealt with. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

Smith will need to focus his efforts defensively more on Luol Deng and less on help defense.  In Game 5, Deng played 45 minutes and scored 23 points, while posting the highest +/- (+15) of any Bull other than Derrick Rose.  Only one Atlanta player even posted a positive +/- with Pachulia being +3.  That’s the sign of a tough game, but when Zaza is in the the Hawks are a better team than with Collins or any of their pathetic centers.

Some betting trends:

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games and the Bulls are 16-3 SU in their last 19 games.  The total has gone OVER in 8 of their last 12 games on the road and the Bulls are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games on the road.  The total has gone OVER In 11 of the Bulls’ last 16 games against the Atlanta Hawks and the Bulls are 5-2 SU in their last 7 against Atlanta.  The total has gone OVER in 9 of the Bulls’ last 11 games on the road against the Hawks while the Bulls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games against the Hawks.

The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Atlanta’s last 14 games and the Hawks are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home.  The total has gone UNDER In 8 of Atlanta’s last 10 games at home and it has gone OVER in 11 of their last 16 games against the Bulls.  The Hawks are 2-5 SU in their last 7 against Chicago and they are 2-5 ATS in those 7 games.  The total has gone OVER in 9 of Atlanta’s lst 11 games at home against the Bulls.  The total has gone OVER In 9 of Atlanta’s last 11 games at home against the Bulls while the Hawks are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games at home against the Bulls.

Tonight’s game is a must win for the Hawks, and the Bulls will be wise to treat the game the same way.  While a loss would force a game 7 at home, anything can happen at that point between two teams that have been close all series.  While no one expected this from the Hawks, they haven’t even been playing their best ball.  At times in the Orlando series, the Hawks backcourt looked unstoppable.  If Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford could return to form, the Hawks could come back and win the series.  If not, happy fishing, Hawks.