Just hope Flip doesn't reduce Fino's minutes tomorrow night. If anything I hope he gives him a chance to finish tomorrow night too. He is getting more aggressive on offense the last few games and is starting to learn he doesn't need to force the issue. Let him run 25-30 minutes a night these last dozen games and he will be a lot more prepared for the play-off run we are about to make.

Just imagine if his teammates actually passed him the ball, or if Flip was fired and the new coach actually ran plays for Delfino. (Cause you know Saunders never will.) PS, Billups is by far the worst offender in not passing Delfino the ball when open.

LOL Ive noticed that Billups NEVER passes Delfino the ball either.. perhaps hes worried Delfino will make him look bad running the offense

CB was an atrocious 3-16 shooting as he forced 5 more shots than he needed to trying get Heinrich in deeper foul trouble. I wish our bigs would play like that and try to get Ben, Shaq, Zo and Yao in trouble. Those are the guys you want to get out of the game, because they are the ones that affect our inside game.

Experience is built on mistakes. The effort was there from Delfino, so I'm not going to blame him. He's not in that situation very often and was doing a pretty good job before that.

Dyess was really playing hard... again. He's looking more and more dangerous every game. X-factor in the post season.

Maxiell- he can really jump, but in the trenches a lot or rebounds need to be grabbed so fast that only height can get them. His style works better for offensive rebounding and not so well for holding off the Ben Wallace's of the World.

Flip Murray looked a little lost after his J didn't fall.

All in all, we put a good scare into Chicago on their court with only 50% of our starters (counting CB as 1/2).

The positives-

• our defense held them to a very low shooting %.
• We only turned it over 12 times against a very aggressive Bulls D with bench players out there the whole game.
• We almost won despite a horrible shooting night from CB, no Rip, and no CWebb.
• Dyess continued do everything right... except get calls. cursed?
• And Tay looking like our best player again when playing a good team.
  

Negatives... I won't even bother.


One other comment- Tyrus Thomas has really come on as he has received more PT in the past month. He really adds something to the team and I think they would be smart to utilize that in the Playoffs.

__________________
"I’ll just say this: We’re not talking to teams about their second- or third-best players." Joe Dumars talking about his plan to get other teams' 4th best players.

I actually am not tearing my hair out after this loss and the Pistons really are never out of any game even being 10-12 points behind with less than 5 minutes to play. There are positives to take away from this game and in a New York minute I would let Delfino play in the last seconds of a close game win, lose or tie. He preserved a win for us this year late in a game (against Seattle) by tipping the ball away from the Seattle player on an inbounds play so he's getting battle tested. Chauncey has had his share of late game miscues but I still want the ball in his hands at the end because he is cool under fire. Something tells me that Flip Sr. won't put Carlos in the doghouse after tonight because the effort and heart was there and that's all you can ask.

I wonder if Big Ben will go out with Sheed and the boys after the game and talk about old times. Tonight's game felt like a playoff game and I say bring on Da Bulls at some point in the playoffs!

My only worry is Billips. He really seems to have lost much of his game. Going back to last year's playoffs, he has not given us consistent production. He is hesitant when he shoots.

Of our key guys, he is the player I worry about as the playoffs loom. We absolutely need offense from Billips.

He consistently misses layups of all things. Once our best 3 point shooter, he is at about 34%.

He needs to get his offense back...I can't blame injuries. His production has been suspect for awhile. It is as if his game has become too much of an assist game. And now, when he goes to the shot, it is not there and his edge is gone.

The difference in seeing the Bulls at the first match and now is telling. Come playoffs, they can be easily rattled. There is absolutely no floor leader to settle things down. Skiles had absolutely no impact (calling any type of offensive or defensive sets) on the game. Flip can and will easily out-coach him.

Flip Sr. Some excellent called plays and his trap zone absolutely destroyed the Bulls rhythm. More playing time for the bench with the regular crew and you has to know it killed him to start JMax instead of Dyess. Still, things have to become known, not only for the final run, but also who is dealt out after the season. Liked his call at the end of the game: everyone thought Sheed and yet Tay definitely would be the only one who would be consistently open from that side of the court. Just didn’t work out.

Flip Murray: Lousy game and never got into any flow. Next to Hunter, has the quickest hands and feet on the team. I am still a fan of his. What a steal!

CB: Worst game I have seen him play this year. Blown layups, and showed no leadership. I hope that injuries (like the broadcasters constantly told us) are the problem. For a contract year, he is making a S/T a distinct reality. Anyone notice how a 36 year old Hunter (not to mention overdrive Flip) showed twice the speed we have seen of CB this year? Not a good sign.

Prince: Outstanding game and picked up his defense. Not a slasher, slows down ball movement and still cannot make anything happen when facing the basket. The key for him is how he starts out. I actually saw him dribble with his right hand...honest!

JMax: Let us not forget, it takes these kids at least three years to perform at a pro level. He needs a lot of off season work, but he can jump and his gravy train is around the basket. If Ben can get 60 million in his thirties, then JMax has a chance to be a productive player. The final results don’t show up at times, but the Bulls knew that couldn’t dunk (or move confidently at the rim) with him in the game. Each time he gets on the court, he learns a little-bit more. I still like him.

Delfino: Up and down, up and down. Loves to run around. Blows layups and then hits pressure 3 points and has no fear of taking them. I just don’t think he will ever be a consistent player…good or bad. He is excellent at fronting and keeps up with his man as long as he doesn’t have to go lateral, but loses concentration in any type of busy switches. Some people might call this a type of low basketball IQ.

Sheed: Surprisingly under control for such an emotional game. Damn, that guy can clean up around the basket when he has a mind to go after it. Looks pretty shooting thirty footers than most guys do making layups. He is a 200,000 mile BMW and at 12 million, continues to have enough talent who can still get you to work on time. I now have come to an understanding with myself that I will always have a love-hate relationship toward this guy.

Dyess: Sweet turn-around and a deadly 12 foot shot when facing the basket. If I was an opposing coach, this is the guy I would concentrate on in order to beat the pistons over a seven game series. At 6-10 and with Sheed hanging around the perimeter, this guy can get you 15-20 in a 25 minute game. Of all the Pistons, this guy plays solid and well within himself. He will never hurt you. Wish he was 25.

I only have a problem with Chauncey. He needs to start making some shots again. Yesterday was not the only bad game. There was nothing else that was really bad, I was expecting a loss because this game was more important to the Bulls and 2 of our best players were out.

"Ben Wallace also made the shot of the game. He threw up a wild shot early in the fourth that bounced high off the rim, hit off the top of the backboard and fell through".Chris McCosky

As I recall, the ball didn't bounce off the rim first. The shot went up above the backboard , came down and bounced off the top of the backboard and then into the basket.