~ The Detroit News ~
Minutes dry up for erratic Milicic
Bench has its struggles, so Davis, who played well against the Knicks, might get on court more.
By Chris McCosky
Nobody in the Pistons organization is giving up on Darko Milicic, be clear on that.
But after yet another erratic performance by Milicic on Friday, coach Flip Saunders' patience may be wearing thin -- to the point where he might elevate 15th-year pro Dale Davis into the rotation.
"I have that saying, 'You want to give guys as much responsibility as they can accept as long as they keep improving,' " Saunders said before the Pistons played the Bulls on Saturday. "If they take a step back, then you back off."
Wojo: It would be wise if Millen studied Dumars, Holland
Emotional style of Lions president contrasts with that of Wings and Pistons GMs.
By Bob Wojnowski
Millen's common theme is exposed when he's contrasted with Dumars and Holland. (We're not including Dave Dombrowski of the Tigers because, as sharp as he might be, he hasn't shown it here yet.)
Dumars and Holland are bright, cool leaders who seldom are swayed by emotion.
Millen might be bright, but he's always swayed by emotion.
Pistons pull away from Bulls
Strong third quarter helps wipe out early deficit, propel team with NBA's best record.
By Chris McCosky
Remember in the mid-1990s when the Bulls were the reigning kings of the Eastern Conference and the Pistons were the young, scrappy upstarts trying to knock them off their throne?
Remember how Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would toy with the Pistons, letting them hang around for a while in games, only to crush them in the end?
What we have here is a serious case of role reversal.
~ The Oakland Press ~
Milicic might lose playing time
by Dana Gauruder
Darko Milicic is making it more difficult for Flip Saunders to keep Dale Davis stashed at the end of the bench.
Milicic has not delivered during most of his stints this season and hit a new low against New York Friday night with a mistake-filled, fiveminute outing. Saunders says he'll start using Davis as the team's fourth big man, depending upon the opponent.
~ Booth Newspapers ~
Pistons rally to 92-79 victory over Bulls, improve record to 13-2
By Danny Knobler
If it's not Richard Hamilton, it's Rasheed Wallace. If it's not a furious fourth-quarter run, it's a thriller in the third.
One way or another, the Detroit Pistons get you, as they got the Chicago Bulls Saturday night.
Down 15 points in the first half, the Pistons turned it up and raced to a 92-79 win. A night after Hamilton scored a season-high 40, Rasheed Wallace led the way Saturday with 26 points.
~ The Chicago Sun-Times ~
Pistons' win a real laugher
by John Jackson
The Bulls were playing for the fourth time in five days, but coach Scott Skiles wasn't about to use fatigue as an excuse for his team's second-half woes in a 92-79 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night at the United Center.
''Not the way that it happened,'' Skiles said. ''We stopped doing what works. Our defense just got really soft in the mid-to-late second quarter. We stopped moving the ball, and we stopped guarding. It carried over to the second half, and we paid for it.''
~ The Chicago Tribune ~
Beasts of the East smiling in victory
Wallace gets under Bulls' skin as Pistons rampage in 2nd half
by Fred Mitchell
The joke was on the Bulls Saturday night.
Rasheed Wallace could not conceal his cynical grin on the court as the recalcitrant Pistons forward bullied the young Bulls before a crowd of 21,875.
The Detroit Pistons (13-2) whipped the Bulls (8-7) for the 11th straight time at the United Center 92-79.
"When we see [Wallace laughing on the court], somebody has to step up or hard-foul him, let him know that we're still out there," Bulls guard Ben Gordon said. "He got away with that tonight.
"We just have to learn from that as a young team. Next time we can't let guys be in there laughing at us."
Beasts of the East show how it's done
Pistons run away from Bulls after trailing by 15 in 2nd
by Fred Mitchell
The Bulls should be thinking playoffs, even though the postseason is half a year away. After all, victories early in the season count the same as those during the so-called playoff run in March and April.
But sobering reality showed up Saturday night when the Bulls took on one of the NBA's elite. The Detroit Pistons (13-2) whipped the Bulls for the 11th straight time at the United Center, 92-79.
"San Antonio and Detroit, to me, are the two best teams," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said of the teams who have won the NBA's last three titles.