Fudgin' Bulls

• Everyone is making a big deal out of the Bulls inability to handle the zone the Pistons put on them in the second half, but the main problem still came down to hitting shots. The zone did clogged up the middle and stifled the initial part of the Bulls’ drive-and-kick offense, making it virtually impossible for Hinrich and Gordon to score inside, but it could have been overcome had the guys not gone cold again, like they have been all series. I thought Hinrich played ok but he was only 6-15 from the field, Deng was 8-22, and Gordon was a miserable 4-16. Those are the Bulls three big guns, if they’re not making shots the team isn’t going to win. It’s that simple.

• When Pistons’ started making their Tayshaun Prince led run midway through the third quarter, Skiles should have put in Tyrus. That was the beginning of the end of the Bulls’ (not just the game, but the season), as you could tell they were playing not to lose, instead of trying to win. Tyrus was the first guy off the bench in the first quarter and contributed immediately, scoring on an alley-oop from Deng and then making a ridiculous block that called for goaltending but really wasn’t(visual evidence below). When Tyrus comes in the game, the Bulls play differently. He just brings so much energy that it rubs off on everyone else. Amazing what a couple dunks and block can do to a team, right? The Bulls needed Tyrus in the second half, but he never got a chance. Skiles should have gone to him as soon as the lead started slipping, but then didn’t even get him in the game in the fourth quarter when the lead immediately disappeared. Skiles said in his post game press conference that he wanted to see if the Bulls’ seven best players could beat the Pistons’, and obviously it didn’t happen. I think Tyrus maybe could have helped turn that around.

• It might have been a little premature when I wrote it the first time, but it’s now blantly obvious to anyone: the Pistons are a lot better then the Bulls. They're better at every position really, with the possible exception of small forward (where it’s a wash) and center (where it’s way closer then it should be). The Pistons are clearly the class of the East and just because our Bulls got smoked by them doesn’t mean they suck. I’m pretty sure it means the Pistons are just that good. If I had to pick right now, I’d say that they’re probably going to beat the Spurs/Suns and be the champions. The Bulls might be the second best team in the Eastern Conference, but right now they’re no where near the best.

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