May
12
GROWING PANGS!
Filed Under Chicago Bulls
Chicago’s Shooting Pains & Tightness Seal Blown Lead & Fate in Series
As Game Three came to its screeching halt for the Chicago Bulls last night, the team’s final possession was quite comical and symbolic of just how tough the second half truly was during the eventual 81-74 loss to the Detroit Pistons. With the game clearly out of sight in the final 20-plus seconds, Chicago – whether it be Luol Deng, Thabo Sefolosha, Kirk Hinrich – kept firing and clanking. In fact, the Bulls scored just 30 points in the second half after leading by 18 at halftime and holding Detroit to 26 first-half points. Chicago was 4 out of 25 from the field in the fourth quarter!
With Detroit’s Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace picking it up in the second half and truly showing how superior the Pistons truly have been this series, Chicago tightened up and show how far it has to still go to become a truly elite team. A Wallace three at the end of the third-quarter cut an early 19-point lead down to one and symbolized things to come in the fourth quarter. Chicago could get nothing against the Pistons’ very effective zone defense in the fourth quarter while Detroit quickly took the lead and let Chicago’s ineptitude do the rest.
While Chicago played hard in Game Three, you could see the panic on their faces in the fourth quarter. Deng and Andres Nocioni bricked free throws which could have made some headway as Detroit let the Bulls hang around. Nocioni missed on an open three and you could just tell how this game was going to end. Ben Gordon was aggressive but struggled with his shooting all night while Hinrich nearly notched a triple double but was once again inconsistent and unsure himself on the offensive end. Deng played hard but was clearly overmatched against Detroit’s front line.
As for Bulls’ Head Coach Scott Skiles, he was outcoached in the second half by Detroit’s Flip Saunders, who employed a zone that left Chicago firing blanks. As Detroit began creeping back in the third quarter and the momentum began swinging, Skiles failed to make the necessary adjustments. Keeping P.J. Brown on the floor was the wrong decision even though the veteran played very effective minutes in the first half and opening stages of the third quarter. Chicago’s offense got bogged down, slow and tight when Detroit decided to play, and a Skiles’ infusion of energetic rookie Tyrus Thomas was definitely needed. Who knows what an emphatic dunk or block from Thomas could have done? It might have been enough to sway the momentum and get Chicago going. Rather Chicago continued to press, dribble the ball off their feet and make stupid turnovers (a trademark all series).
Game Three was a tough but sobering piece of reality about where Chicago is right now. They’re a good, young team but they’re still a long way off. The Bulls have been awful all series, which makes their first-round sweep a testament of just how bad the Heat were this season. This series has exposed Chicago’s need for a legitimate number-one scorer, especially when Gordon is getting harassed and targeted by Detroit. Even when Chicago got its lead in the first half, it wasn’t that pretty. The team still looked as if it was forcing shots and has simply looked out of sorts and a league below the Pistons.
Last night’s game was also another good example of why the Pistons can be such a frustrating team at times. After playing their best in the first two games of the series, Detroit did not look ready to play in the first half; thus producing 26 points. And yet when Billups came out playing in the second half, Detroit showed just how special it can be when playing with focus, aggression and determination rather than just coasting. Even though Detroit played an average Game Three, the fact that they pulled it out is evidence enough of what the Pistons are capable of in the final minutes of a big playoff game as compared to the Bulls.
With that said, Detroit’s laissez-faire attitude in the playoffs the last two seasons is one major reason why I predicted Chicago in six games. Boy have the Pistons been locked in for the most part of this series!
Game Three Difference Makers
Billups: Not as aggressive as he should have been in the first half, but came out in the second half like with the energy and aggression that he played with in the first two games of the series. Big second half, including 10 of his 21 points in the third quarter. While Tayshaun Prince or Rasheed Wallace could easily get the nod as the Detroit MVP in Game Three, it still goes to Billups, who got the offense going in the final 24 minutes. Once again, when he plays (which he has done in 10 of the 12 quarters in this series), Chicago has no answer.
Prince: The lanky forward scored 13 of his team-leading 23 points in the third quarter. Emphatic three-point play off of a baseline dunk early in the fourth quarter not only showed the Bulls which team was in charge but also revealed to the United Center crowd that bad things were to come. Compare Prince’s stat line with his counterpart Deng, and you truly see the difference between the effectiveness of these players right now in the series. Prince was an efficient 9-for-16 from the field, secured 11 rebounds and had two assists. Deng was 8-for-22 for 21 points. He also had 14 rebounds and two assists, numbers which would be hard to figure as Deng really did not have a solid, consistent or impact game like Prince.
Rasheed Wallace: Still doesn’t play complete games. But when he does play in his spurts, look out. He has been a defensive force in the series, anchoring the Detroit zone and sending back five shots last night. Got off to a good start last night as he got on the box and hit his patented, over-the-top fade away. Skiles thinks Deng can guard Wallace on the box. Good luck as no one has been able to block that shot throughout Rasheed’s career. His focus and determination was apparent when he drilled the three to end the third quarter and cut the Chicago lead to the slimmest of margins.
Rip Hamilton: Kept Detroit in the game in the first half. Ended up with 16 points. Not his best game as he stood behind Billups, Prince and Wallace in the second half. With that said, still very effective in making Hinrich work so hard on defense.
Flip Saunders: Got Detroit going after the first half with the zone, which has had great results in the series for the Pistons (with the exception of a few minutes in the fourth quarter of Game Two). Chicago looked helpless against the zone, especially the over-dribbling Gordon and Hinrich.
Game Three Struggles
Skiles: When you’re down 2-0 in the series and blowing a big lead in Game Three, you need to spark the team somehow someway. Thomas would have been worth a shot in the third quarter. Chicago has been tight and edgy all series like its coach’s personality. Still has done a great job over the last three seasons but needs to become less stubborn during games at times. Skiles has helped transform the Bulls’ attitude and culture in his near four seasons with the team. Now will he be able to take the team to the next level?
Gordon, Deng and Hinrich: Gordon was much more aggressive but struggled with his shot (4-for-14). Furthermore, Detroit’s added attention has gotten to Gordon, who has been very sloppy (more so than usual) with the ball in his hands. In three games, Gordon has still not cracked 20 points. He is averaging 12 points per game this series.
Deng, once again, has decent stats but has not had a game in this series which he has left his full imprint. Hinrich played with the best energy that he’s had all series and really did a nice job on the boards in the first half. With that said, his shot is not falling. Hinrich is not running the team with the guts that a point guard needs. Very indecisive on the offensive end, which has been very disappointing this series.
Ben Wallace: Had a great first half and played with energy. Not much of a factor in the second half and didn’t get much time in the fourth quarter. Brought bad attention to himself for being late to the game. Even though he’s been the subject of absurd criticism, Wallace’s tardiness has opened him to even more angst from the Chicago media. Incident at least makes me wonder if Wallace and Skiles are not seeing eye-to-eye right now on how this series is going and being played. Wallace’s comments about Skiles worrying about him being late rather than the game makes it appear as if the two still have not resolved some underlying tensions that were apparent earlier in the season.
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