Bulls Demolish Pistons

Man, what a great win last night for the Bulls. Absolutely no one thought they would be able to win Game 5 in Detroit, but the Bulls came out fearlessly firing, leading to the best game the team has played all season. Sometimes scores of basketball games can be deceiving, but not this one. The Bulls’ 108-92 victory was a beat down in every sense. The Pistons never even threatened to make a run like they did in the second half of Game 3, as the Bulls kept their foot on the gas to entire way, forcing a Game 6 in Chicago tomorrow night, a game that is sure to be the Bulls’ biggest since MJ left.

For the first time in this series the Bulls finally found an offensive rhythm. During the first three games, and at times during Game 4, every offensive possession looked like such a struggle. Guys weren’t getting open, not taking shots in the flow of the offense, and having a hard time beating the shot clock. None of that happened in Game 5; it almost looked like the Bulls were playing the Heat instead of the Pistons. Of course, making their shots didn’t hurt the Bulls either, as they shot a lights-out 67% for the first three quarters. The big three (Kirk, Ben, Luol) finally all got going in the same game, combining for 65 points, and Skiles decision to bench Nocioni paid off. I love Noce as much as anyone, but he’s been dreadful in these playoffs; it’s clear his foot isn’t healthy and there is no need to play him the rest of this series. Tyrus did a good job in his place, doing what he always does: making highlight reel plays at both ends of the court.

No one would have been faulted the Bulls if they lost last night, but winning in Detroit, and winning the way they did, says a lot about the makeup of this team. Even if the Bulls lose game 6, just forcing Detroit to break a sweat after jumping out to a 3-0 says so much about the group of guys Paxson and Skiles put together.

Now the question becomes can the Bulls send this puppy back to Detroit. I think I was the only one who thought they would win last night, and I thought that largely because no one else did. When everyone goes one way, you got to go the other, right? The thing that scares me about Game 6 is that EVERYONE in Chicago is making it seem like Game 7 is already a formality, that scares me a little. Honestly, I’m not sure if they can do it again, beating anyone three games in a row is tough, especially a team like the Pistons, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that the Bulls can do it. Most of the games in this series have been blowouts, I don’t anticipate another the rest of the series, whether it’s one more game or two. This series was supposed to go down to the wire when it began, and now everyone is getting their wish. Game 6 is going to be awesome.