Not just yet. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that I am thinking about climbing to the top of that fence and sitting on it through this and the next series. I still think this guy can get outcoached at the elite level. But that doesn't mean we can't win. If we win, I'll forgive him for running Ben off in the interest of his "add offense to the Pistons game plan" strategy.

I think Chicago will have some nice moments and shine a little in this 3rd game. But I don't think they can take a game from us unless we have a real regression in our focus. Now we don't have a great record with Game 3s, but I still think this team won't beat us. I like the Bulls. I watched a ton of their games this year. But I don't see us melting down enough for it to happen. They're young, they'll get over it and go back to work.

One thing I don't get. "Ben Gordon can't guard anyone" from Skiles? (paraphrase of course, but you know what I mean) Really? I thought the Bulls were defense focused across the board. Is he just a shooter then? Kind of a 4 on 5 situation defensively? Is Ben Gordon really a defensive liability or just against Chauncey and Rip? So is Ben Gordon like a Ray Allen type player then? Anyone got an idea about this or Skiles just trying to motivate him? Thanks.

Certainly Skiles was trying to motivate, but my POV after watching Gordon on and off the past two years is that Skiles is right - there are only a handful of NBA guards he can really handle on the defensive end. He is the odd player who plays smaller than he really is.

I still can't understand why, if the deal was real, the Bulls wouldn't have jumped on the chance to move Gordon and Nocioni for Gasol. One reason could have been that Duhon has been in a shooting slump the whole year, but still...

Expecting a completely different game from the Bulls... young teams tend to raise their game at home...
It did look like they had several good looks and simply missed them... Gordon and Hinrich will do a better job of sticking those shots.
They will also get inside more.
Expecting some dirty play from their frustration (Thomas)
Pick Bulls this game... Pistons next two.

Yes but when it was working for them I do not believe that Webber and Sheed were in at the time. When Sheed briefly came back in before fouling out he was able to get in there quit easily.

I am not sure they can play zone with Sheed in there. Although they may back off a bit on their near paranoi trying to front him.

Main way that the Pistons can lose this game is early cheap fouls on Sheed, Webber and co. Lets hope that does not happen.

I don't know. He is pretty short for a guard. Pistons height advantage in the backcourt could be what he is referring to. Gordan has been a defensive liability mainly because they can shoot right over him.

By Chris McCosky:

Yeah, like the last game we played against the Bulls in the regular season. I was getting all giddy about Ben being out of the Bull's lineup when Bill Laimbeer burst my bubble.

He made an ominous prediction that the Bull's would play quite well without Ben...I scoffed at him...but he was right.

The best home team in the East against the best away team in the East (the league???). If we win this game, there's no way we can lose the series, just no way.

If we stay away from getting T up (knowing there will be a lot of whistles against us), we should win this game. So, stay away from the refs esp Sheed and Rip.

Leaving in a few hours for the game tonight.. Hopefully I won't bring bad luck to the 'stones by being there. Last time I was there a few months ago, they got blown out by the Bulls...

Quick, somebody let the air out of this guys tires.