How will Pistons follow up Tuesday’s record-setting performance against the Bulls?
The biggest mistake the Detroit Pistons can make is assuming that the Chicago Bulls team they will face tonight will look anything like the Bulls from the first half of yesterday’s game. Those Bulls couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean and were limited to 29 first-half points. Chicago might be a rebuilding team struggling to create offense, but they aren’t 29 points bad. If Detroit doesn’t take them seriously, they could lose. However, if they show the same energy and commitment to defense and causing disruption, they should enter the All-Star break with another victory and their sixth win in eight games.
Game Vitals
When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -6.5
Analysis
The Pistons will look to recapture the magic of Tuesday’s 132-92 annihilation of the Bulls. Chicago will instead attempt to build off of its 66-point second half when Detroit clearly took its foot off the gas.
I’m not sure what Detroit could do for an encore more impressive than what they delivered Tuesday. Malik Beasley set the franchise’s all-time 3-point mark before the All-Star break. The team had the biggest first-half lead in franchise history. They limited the Bulls to 35% shooting for the night.
Tonight, it is likely safe to assume that the game will be a closer affair. The questions then become, how can Cade perform when asked to deliver for 30-plus minutes? How can the team ensure Tobias Harris is able to again exploit mismatches and find open driving lanes? How can Ausar Thompson work as a transition threat and find easy points in the dunker’s spot? What can the defense do to limit Ayo Dosunmu and, potentially, players like Nikola Vucevic assuming both are able to start connecting on three-pointers?
Otherwise, this game is not particularly complicated. Play defense, don’t give up easy baskets, and keep the ball moving. As long as they don’t fall into the trap of assuming the Bulls will let them easily waltz into a 25-point first-half lead, the Pistons should be fine. Things could get a bit messy if they are mentally checked out and take it so easy they are essentially factoring in their All-Star break plans.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (28-26)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Chicago Bulls (22-32)
Josh Giddey, Lonzo Ball, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic
Question of the Game
How many members of the Bulls starting lineup will be on the team next season?