Forget about Vegas, the worst beat-down Saturday was in Auburn Hills. Other Luol Deng, none of the Bulls showed up. Any reason to believe Game 2 will be different?
One of the biggest plays was when Ben Wallace stole the ball, led a 3-on-1 fast break and made a bad pass near the hoop. It was a turnover that led to Ben Gordon's second foul very early in the game.
Then again, even with Gordon, the Bulls were so thoroughly outplayed, it probably wouldn't have matters.
Detroit's guards are so much better than the Bulls guards.
blow out or not it's one game, a Bulls win tomorrow evens the series and changes home court. looking back at the regular season with the exception of the early west coast trip, every time this Bulls team was beaten by 15 or more points they came out the following game and won. rest assured today's practice will not be a walk-through. the Pistons showed respect for the Bulls by not making any cocky post-game statements, good move on their part. Skiles comment "maybe they needed this as a wake-up call, a learning experience" might be correct. I expected an open series game loss, just not of this proportion. consider this...isn't it better to win the second game on their court and head home with some momentum and confidence then to win the opener and lose the second game before going home?
One game doesn't a series make. Teams go thru games like this (ask Dallas) so let's hope foul trouble and stupid dribbling turnovers are corrected. One announcer put this game into perspective early with a comment he had no idea would pretty much carry throughout the game; " high risk, low percentage - low risk, high percentage". The Bulls need to go back to just moving the ball and making high percentage plays by not forcing. Sorry Roman but I think Dang was one of the major culprits. He consistently dribbled smack dab in the middle of double teams, and shot way too fast. Let's see what this next game holds before we fret. Remember the tone after the N.J. game. About face anyone?
The sky is not falling. Expect the Bulls to bring it in game 2. Their last 2 losses down the stretch were low energy nights just like Sat. That loss of energy has nothing to do with fatigue and everything to do with BG. Ben Gordon is the catalyst for this team. When he is in-sync the energy levels of the rest of the Bulls jump. An in-sync BG brings out the best in the players around him. If you stop the catalyst you beat the Bulls. There's no other player on the team that fills that role. It's why BG is the MVP of the Bulls this year.
There's no way the Pistons will be able to stop BG every game. Bulls in 7.
Believe it or not, it was good for the Bulls who have been brought down to earth. They were pretty happy after their sweep of the Heat. Well now we face being swept. Now do something about it. Time for all of those players who were doing all those interviews to put up. Detroit smacked them right in the mouth, and sometimes that's what it takes to get someone to wake up. Bulls must now focus on ONE GAME instead of thinking about the conference finals. Detroit did for the Bulls yester what the Ewing Knicks did for the Jordan Bulls once they finally overcame and swept the Pistons. All those happy times were over and the Bulls had to refocus just to survive the series. Bulls went up to Detroit thinking they were just going to turn it on. Good! We cannot afford to feel overconfident vs any opponent, even Skiles has said, we just don't have the kind of team that can win without maximum effort. GAME 2 SHOULD BE MUCH BETTER. Its a must win game in my opinion. Bulls win it, and they are back in the series; they lose and they have to fight off being swept.
I'm not surprised at all (so much so my brother put down $300 for me on the Pistons giving points). They were off almost a week and you can't continue their sharp play and D with that layoff while detriot was at home and have guys used to that drill...easy money the NBA is if you really watch.
Game 2 will be different...much closer and if the Bulls stop giving the ball away, they can win.
I think the Bulls will be alright. Ben Gordon is the key for the Bulls. When he is shooting well, and able to drive the lane, the Bulls are a much more potent team and allows for more space for Luol Deng to score. The Bulls seem to be having all kinds of problems matching up with the savy veterans Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber. I see them trying to use their quickness advatange on them, but that speed is negated by the back court of Billups and Hamilton. Not giving up tho, the Bulls for their young age, our playoff tested and can play tremendous defense. Watch for them to shoot much better in game two. Sticking by my guns and sayign the Bulls take the series, but it would have to be in 6, as I don't see them winning a game 7 in Detroit.
Eh....these aren't the Pistons of years past, even with Chris Webber. This ought to be a close series if the Bulls show the form they showed against Miami.
It could go either way.
The Bulls need to find a High School team to play. Then they might win a game. Right now they STINK! Blown out in the first game and the second one was over halfway thru the first quarter. Good job!