Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls are known to be a defensive-minded team, but they really turned it on tonight. Head coach Tom Thibodeau should be a happy man after what his team just did to the Atlanta Hawks in the first half of tonight’s game.
After one half of basketball, the Bulls held a 48-20 advantage. The Hawks had a miserable half from the field, shooting a record low 20.5%. After a 15-point first quarter, Atlanta followed that up with a 5-point 2nd quarter, which happens to be a season-low in the NBA this season. The previous low for a quarter was seven, set by the Charlotte Bobcats earlier this season.
The Bulls set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a half with 20– the old record was 22 by the New York Knicks in 1999. The Hawks shot a record low 20.5% in the first half. The 20 points scored by the Hawks is also a franchise-low for points in half– the old record for fewest points in a half for Atlanta was 25.
The Hawks struggled from the tip with their shots, missing 21 in the first half, and they also turned the ball over 11 times. As a matter of fact, the Hawks had more turnovers than made baskets that half. Josh Smith was the Hawks leading scorer at the half with seven points, three rebounds, and two blocks. Al Horford did grab 10 rebounds in the first half, but his lack of offense (four points) has hurt his team.
The domination has continued on the West side of Chicago, as the Bulls currently lead the Hawks 57-28 in the middle of the third quarter. Stay tuned, as some more franchise records, mostly embarrassing ones for the Atlanta Hawks, can possibly be set by the completion of this game.
Michael J. Igyarto is a featured columnist and fantasy basketball expert at Rant Sports
Follow Michael on twitter: @windycityiggy
