It’s Pistons and Bulls in Chicago on TNT! Okay, I sound like a commercial, but this should be good. The Bulls are 0-4 but you have to figure they’ll put up a good fight against a bitter rival at home in front of a national television audience. (Las Vegas agrees, listing Detroit as one-point underdogs.)
And besides, if the Bulls don’t win soon, Scott Skiles may have a heart attack and/or kill someone — he almost ripped the head off Joakim Noah earlier this week when Noah suggested (gasp!) that the Bulls looked “out of sync” in losing to the Clippers on Tuesday:
“I don’t know. If I had just played my first game, I’d probably keep my mouth shut, to be honest with you,” Skiles said. “It’s obvious we’re not playing to our ability. I may have a little problem with the phrasing of (Noah’s comment), but the point is probably spot-on. But again, it probably should be someone else speaking for the team.”
Because, you know, Ben Wallace and the rest of their veterans are such vocal leaders. In any case, Chicago’s fans have yet to give up hope, as evident by this inspirational “the sky isn’t falling yet” post a Blog-a-Bull.
And I agree: the sky isn’t falling. Over the course of a season, a four- or five-game losing streak really isn’t much to lose sleep over, especially when one of the games went to overtime. It’s not ideal, of course, but it happens, and there’s no reason to think Chicago won’t eventually bounce back. In fact, I still pegged them the third best team in the East yesterday over at HOOPSWORLD … but here’s to hoping that first win doesn’t happen tonight.
As usual, leave any thoughts on the game in the comments.
I know we can’t win em all but come now…. This is totally a game winners/contenders take. Chi is reeling. Pistons by double digits.
I hope Aaron Gray gets into the game tonight…. I go to the University of Pittsburgh and since I’ve seen this guy jump maybe 12″ as his highest vertical… he is just waiting to get dunked on.
I imagine the Bulls are going to give it everything for this game. It should be a tough game. Barkley said Pistons are the top team in the east before the game.
Is it me, or is the officiating ATROCIOUS already? Put me down for at least 1 Rasheed technical. This is going to be a damn aggravating game to watch if this is how the refs are going to call it. Although, this is the NBA, so maybe we’ll end up with 9 minutes of non-stop action in the 2nd quarter. Sometimes I hate this league.
I think the refs realized their on national television and want to be the show.
Missed free throws are killing us already. If this game is going to be officiated in a manner where Dupree is on the verge of getting called for fouls for watching too intensely, then perhaps we should go to the basket aggressively?
The pistons web site says 9 turnovers first half for the ’stones and aolsports says 12 turnovers.
Either way that’s a lot.
A little ball control in the second half and we should come out alright. We’re shooting a higher percentage from the field, from 3 point land, and at the line.
Ben already blew his load for the night.
Just don’t get frustrated with the refs.
OR we could get whipped like rented mules in a “WTF just happened” type game…. no answer for this one guys….
Hopefully Detroit pulls it out in the 2nd half but umm… Dayam…
Somebody throw some ‘D’ at Gordon!
Big Ben already has season highs … he’s done for the night.
Too many first half turnovers for the ’stones’.
140 posts on the game thread at blogabull.
Those guys are into this game.
This is the most important game so far for both teams. We are starting to catch up, down 1. Sheed is carrying us through this game. We need an inside scorer in there.
Looks like a new game… 70-70.
No problems that a string of 3balls can’t fix.
71-70 Pistons.
Joe Smith, really? Is it 1996 again?
MMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAXXXXXXXXXXXIIIIEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
JASON F-ING MAXIELL!
What a great block. That was a huge play.
Our lack of inside game is hurting us. Jumpshot after jumpshot.
We’re getting CRUSHED on the boards. It’s very annoying, it seems like every rebound is bouncing directly to them. Credit to the Bulls, they’re coming away with every contested rebound.
That sucks. I think they out played us. I really couldn’t tell you how we were in the game there at the end, the rebounding margin had to be close 18-20 in favor of Chicago. The announcers were hammering on how many more possessions the Bulls had. I really hate losing to them.
Hopefully we can get the next 3. Ugh.
I knew that this was destined to be a Pistons loss, I knew it hours ago! One, it is the first game I’ve been able to watch this year. Two, the law of averages always bites the Pistons in the ass. And…three, Rip looked a bit like he did at times last year. Ticky-tack fouls, rushing things, losing his temper.
Sheed was $$ in the bank. Liked some of what I saw, but there is work to be done!
Any of you peeps going to the Portland game on Tuesday?
Q
The homer calls gave it to Chicago, and they hit a ridiculous percentage on long two-point shots.
My goofy prediction for this season was that if Sheed could go tech-free, he would not only get an all-star nod, but get MVP buzz. This game gives credence to that prediction. The Pistons didn’t fold at any point, and if they can put themselves in coin-flip range of the leagues top 12 teams on the road, they’ll win 60 games.
I don’t think Rip lost his temper. His tech was for making a sneaky move to prevent the shot-blocker from retaining possession. Players get away with it most of the time.
i’m not going 2 say that this was a terrible game 4 the pistons because it wasn’t. I thought we needed 2 be more aggressive on the boards, but hey this was a well fought out game. I thought we should have used the bench more, because I REALLY WANTED 2 see Amir play. tonight if i don’t c Amir play i am going 2 be very upset. Other than that i thought Maxiell was amazing again, but i can’t wait 4 us 2 play Cleveland because i’m looking forward to Maxy breaking the Cavs backboard…TO EXCITING. But a very well played game Sheed was amazing (no techs, i think i’m going 2 cry) but i love Sheed and thought he was amazing. But i would love 2 c tha bench play more tonight so our starters can get some rest (especially tay and dyess) and would like 2 c more Amir, J-JMAX, Hayes, Flip. I’m really liking Hayes because he is being effective and i wished he played a little more in tha game. uh i felt bad 4 Ben because i was listening 2 tha pre-game and i heard that ben :denied being team captain, got booed at the games, hasn’t been productive, assuming being called worst player on team and i just had this feeling that I really want him back because i think he is doesn’t like being in Chicago. But hey we have 78 (i believe) more games to go plus playoffs, and i think we are at a great start, despite losing yesterday. I believe we will go all tha way because there is no way they are going 2 go through what they been going through 4 tha last couple of years, because we NEED A PARADE IN DETROIT 4rom tha Pistons. I miss seeing a jersey on tha Spirit of Detroit. So i think Sheed will unbelievably go tech free (wait maybe get a career low about 3techs this season),lol I love this team!!!
LET’S GO PISTONS AND LET’S GET THAT SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-2008 IT’S OUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL BOUT DETROIT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!