Derrick Rose is channeling his inner Michael Jordan. The Atlanta Hawks, well, they're channeling their inner Atlanta Hawks -- you know that bad Hawks team that gets destroyed on their home court.
Rose has 34 points on 13-for-23 shooting from the field to post the Chicago Bulls to a commanding 80-63 lead over the Hawks through three quarters in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup at Philips Arena on Friday.
Taj Gibson has nine points and Kyle Korver eight for Chicago, which is 7-for-14 from beyond the 3-point line.
This one is all about the league's youngest MVP ever, who is putting on a clinic against a Hawks team that doesn't seem to have an answer how to front the budding Bulls star. Shots are falling inside, outside and all around the floor for Rose, who simply can't be contained.
On the other side of the court, Chicago has clamped down on Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford, by either doubling or trapping Atlanta's top two shooters. As a result, the Hawks are relying on guys like Jeff Teague and Josh Smith. And while Teague has a team-high 19 and Smith has looked better, crashing the paint for 14 points, the Hawks simply look overmatched.
Atlanta's shooting 47-percent (26-for-55) from the field and has made just 1 of 6 from beyond the arc.
They are also getting destroyed inside, losing the battle of the boards 37-24. Joakim Noah is all over the glass, grabbing 11 boards through three quarters.
Johnson has 10 points and Marvin Williams eight for Atlanta, which simply has no chance of winning this game.