Bulls Overmatched by Pistons

So the Chicago Bulls lost again to the Detroit Pistons Thursday night at the United Center and are now poised to be eliminated when the two teams square off in Game 4 Sunday. I don’t think there’s a single fan in Chicago who expected this team to play as poorly as they have in this series — two blowout losses to Detroit by 26 and 21 points respectively and a loss last night after blowing a 19-point lead early in the third quarter.

It seemed the Pistons were toying with the Bulls during the first half last night before flipping a switch on their zone defense halfway through the third quarter. In a blink of an eye, the Pistons closed to a one-point deficit at the end of the quarter. The Bulls have no answer for Detroit’s zone defense, and obviously, the Pistons see some weakness in the Bulls that they are easily exploiting. At this point, a series loss is inevitable and disappointing considering how well the Bulls played against the Miami Heat in the first round.

In a post two weeks ago, I suggested that the Bulls might have put forth more energy into defeating the Heat and may not have much left for the Pistons. Apparently I was right because the Bulls just have been overmatched by the Pistons in just about every phase of the game. Just as last year’s brief playoff run gave the Bulls the incentive to beat the Miami Heat this year, this series against Detroit may be the very thing the Bulls need to push themselves further next season.

No More Baby Bulls

It’s been a long time since I felt so much excitement about the Bulls in the postseason, about nine years in fact. While the Bulls have made the postseason the last two years, they did not make it out of the first round. Today, they took a big step forward by sweeping the defending champion Miami Heat during the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Today’s 92-79 victory was not their best outing in the series. The Bulls shot only 34 percent from the field, but shot well from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, had only five turnovers and dominated defensively down the stretch to earn a meeting with the Detroit Pistons.

Watching today’s game, I could see a hunger and confidence in this Bulls’ team that I did not see last year in the playoffs. They are a more complete team, with a good, healthy balance of experience and youth. This team played with a chip on its shoulder, challenging the Heat to keep pace with them.

But did they leave everything they had on the basketball court in this series? Will they have anything left for the next series? Will they be prepared to battle the more powerful and experienced Pistons team, which won the NBA title two years ago?

The Bulls passed an important test today. The next test will begin next weekend in Detroit.