Hawks ready for more aggressive Rose

CHICAGO�-- The Atlanta Hawks remain confident in their defensive game plan against Derrick Rose, but are bracing for what might be a concerted effort by the Chicago Bulls to get the league's MVP more frequent trips to the free-throw line.

Rose did not attempt a free throw during Chicago's 103-95 loss in Game 1 on Monday after averaging 12 attempts from the line in the Bulls' first-round series win against Indiana. He also shot about seven free throws a game during the regular season.

Although Rose might be slowed some by a sprained left ankle he aggravated late in Game 1, the Bulls have talked about him attacking the basket more aggressively when Chicago looks to even the series in Wednesday's game at the United Center.

"We have to anticipate that he's going to get to the free-throw line," Hawks coach Larry Drew said before Wednesday morning's shootaround at the United Center. "We have to anticipate that. And we have to play through it irregardless of what the situation is. If we do that, we should be OK."

Drew said a combination of solid defense and fair officiating were factors that led to a tough outing for Rose, who shot 11 of 27 from the field and had three turnovers but still finished with 24 points and 10 assists.

Drew said he wasn't worried if there would be quicker whistles from referees when Rose drives into the lane in Game 2 after he failed to get to the line Monday for only the fourth time this season. Seven different Hawks players went to the line in Game 1 and converted 16 of 20 free throws. Chicago had four players attempt free throws, and they were a combined 13 of 16.

"It's not a concern at all," Drew said. "I think the way the game was officiated … it was officiated very fairly. I thought there were times where we probably should have gotten to the free-throw line (more), but we didn't. So it was both ways. That's a big point for us, to try to keep (Rose) off the free-throw line as much as we can."

The Hawks had surprising success against Rose early in the game, despite the injury absence of starting point guard Kirk Hinrich, their defensive specialist who will miss the series with a strained hamstring. Second-year guard Jeff Teague, who is quicker and more athletic than Hinrich, played a season-high 45 minutes and hounded Rose into missing eight of his first 10 shots on Monday.

Drew said his overall team defensive approach was effective in not fouling Rose and still contesting his looks at the basket and on the perimeter. But Drew also acknowledged Rose simply missed some shots he routinely makes.

"He probably didn't have the game that he's probably accustomed to," Drew said. "But I'd like to credit the way we defended him. Being an MVP, that's a heck of an accomplishment and a deserving accomplishment for this kid. That being said, we cannot change the way we approach this game tonight. We're not going to stop him. He's too good. We just have to slow him down the best we can."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/28546/hawks-ready-for-more-aggressive-rose

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