So much for all the hype about Jeff Teague not being able to guard Derrick Rose. So far, so good for the Atlanta point guard.
Joe Johnson has seven points and Teague and three other Hawks have four each as the Hawks took a 28-18 edge into the second quarter at the United Center on Monday night.
Rose finished the quarter 0-for-7 from the field for the Bulls, who shot just 29-percent (6-for-21) from the field in the first quarter.
Teague set the tone by slashing into the lane for the opening layup, as Hawks came out red-hot in this one, scoring the first nine points of the game while the Bulls missed their first nine shots from the field. Teague stayed in front of Rose. Josh Smith covered Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer matched wits with Al Horford.
The result was a number of long-range jumpers and ill-advised shots that were more fitting of the Hawks rather than the No. 1 seed Bulls.
But Atlanta, which lead by as many as 10 in this one, started to take more long range shots as the Bulls regained their composure, cutting the lead to 18-13 with 3:21 left in the frame as the Hawks called time out. But Josh Smith followed with an alley-oop dunk from Jamal Crawford and the Hawks pushed back with a bucket by Damien Wilkins to reestablish a more comfortable lead.
You have to be happy with the flow of this game if you are a Hawks fan. Chicago looks like a team that's feeling its way around in the first second round playoff series for these group of guys. Atlanta is controlling the tempo and moving the ball well and dominating the game as a result.
Josh Smith, Al Horford and Damien Wilkins also four points for the Hawks, who shot 59-percent (13-for-22) in the first quarter.
Luol Deng has eight points and Joakim Noah and Keith Bogans have three each for Chicago.