Pistons vs Bulls October 11th, 2005 ~ 7:00 pm Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI TV: FSN Detroit Radio: WDFN This is the official game thread and log! Discuss this game here!
Box Score Detroit 87, Chicago 76 Pistons Repel Bulls in Preseason Opener GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 11 (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons did not lose their defensive intensity under new coach Flip Saunders. Rasheed Wallace had 15 points to pace the Pistons to an 87-76 triumph over the Chicago Bulls in the preseason opener for both teams. Offseason acquisition Maurice Evans scored 12 points and Ben Wallace added 11 for Detroit, which was playing its first game under Saunders. The Pistons reached the NBA Finals each of the last two seasons, winning in 2003-04 under Larry Brown, who agreed to a buyout and now is coaching the New York Knicks. Michael Sweetney, whom the Bulls acquired from the Knicks in a deal for center Eddy Curry, scored 17 points to pace Chicago. Jannero Pargo, who re-signed with Chicago on Monday, added 11 points and Tyson Chandler contributed eight and 14 rebounds. The Pistons closed the first quarter on a 15-4 run to take a 27-17 advantage and led thereafter. Chicago Sun Times Article on this game. -
Well it's cool as hell (oxymoron ) jumping in on the first game thread of the year for the Pistons at PF.COM.... even if it is just preseason. Looks like these early games will be all about critiquing the young players. Most likely just some simple sets with a splash of Zone concepts. There could be some interesting match ups in this game: Jmax & A.J. vs Sweetney, Deng, Malik Allen? Mo Evan & Delfino vs Deng & Tim Thomas? Acker vs Ben Gordon? Darko vs Othella Harrington (their biggest center besides Chandler is 6' 9") Looking for answers: Does Jmax play any SF? Same for A.J.? Acker mostly playing at PG?... can he stay in front of Gordon? Is Mo Evans tall enough to guard these SF's 3-5" bigger? (Hammond thought Evans might be our backup SF) Has Delfino's lateral movement improved on "D"? The obvious interest in Darko's progress. Flips new stuff (especially on offense) Let the games begin!
My predictions Jmax & A.J. vs Sweetney, Deng, Malik Allen? Sweetney, Deng, Malik Allen Mo Evan & Delfino vs Deng & Tim Thomas? Mo Evan & Delfino Acker vs Ben Gordon? Ben Gordon Darko vs Othella Harrington (their biggest center besides Chandler is 6' 9") Daaaarkooooo Looking for answers: Does Jmax play any SF? My guess is yes. I could see Flip expirementing with a BIG lineup with Jmax and small. Same for A.J.? My guess is no. They will be trying lots of players at the 3, he won't be one of them. Acker mostly playing at PG?... can he stay in front of Gordon? Yes, to PG...NO, to staying in front of Gordon. Is Mo Evans tall enough to guard these SF's 3-5" bigger? (Hammond thought Evans might be our backup SF) Yes, his physical conditioning appears to be very impressive at this point. Has Delfino's lateral movement improved on "D"? Yes, nowhere to go but up! The obvious interest in Darko's progress. Darko will have a strong game and the Pistons fanbase will be talking about this for days. Flips new stuff (especially on offense) Offense will look sluggish originally, but defense will carry the team to a victory.
Agree with everything except for Sweetney, Deng, and Malik doing better than Maxiell, and AJ. Maxiell is going to bully those guys around.
Hmm...I thought someone said that this game would be on NBA TV. I looked at the schedule on NBA.com and my local cable company and that does not appear to be the case. This really sucks. I guess I will have to depend on the coverage you guys deliver tonight/tommorrow morning. dang it! dang it! dang it!
Players haven't put blowout out of mind http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-051010bullsbits,1,6060661.story?coll=cs-home-headlines Looks like Chicago is trying to get up for this game. They are looking to set the tone for the season tonight so this should be a great test for our young players.
I think it will also be a good reminder for the veterans before the regular season starts that teams are going to play their best against the E.C. champs.
Quick thoughts after 8 minutes. - Tayshaun...still content to be the most invisible starter. NEEDS to break free of this syndrome. - Wow. Chandler looks great so far. - Where's Rip's mask? C'mon Rip, gotta protect that nose.
1st half Very impressed with Darko, Delfino and Evans. Arroyo played the point well. The starters did not lose anything on D and played more freely and productive on the offensive end. Only negative thing were all the offensive boards by Chandler. Its still the pre-season.
Chandler is a rebounding machine! Darko 4 blocks in the first half, off of the bench. Looks like some of what he was doing in Serbia carried back over.
DT You can get it at NBA.com. I think they do streaming audio of the preseason games for free! I don't get it on the boob tube either. I'm listening to WDFN and watching the Rockets/Sixers game.
I saw the game on NBAtv, courtesy of Dish Network. Sometimes you have to check at game time even if there are no indications that they'll be televising. Solid effort all around. Chicago came out intense and gave the Pistons a good battle, but the Bulls backcourt wasn't very effective on offense and Detroit built their lead with the starters in the first and third quarters. The second unit held its own or built the lead the remainder of the time. Sheed was excellent on offense, Rip was in midseason form, Chauncey was content to control things, Ben got fiesty early and had a gorgeous alley-oop from Rip over Tyson Chandler, who was superb at the start of the game. Tay stayed in the background and didn't hit a lot of shots. Overall the starters were very precise and blended well with substitutes at the end of quarters. Delfino looked GREAT. Much improved over summer league, very effective at pushing the ball up the court and passing or finishing. He looks like he's put the knee injury behind him. Darko had some terrific moments but struggled a bit after the second quarter. He had a block and a beautiful backdoor pass to Sheed in the last few seconds of the first, a good strong dunk after pinning his man on the baseline and a terrific catch-and-shoot J that iced the game once the Bulls got within six. He fumbled some rebounds but did look a good deal more aggressive. Still struggles with smaller widebodies in the post, though--Sweetney scored on him several times and got him in foul trouble. Arroyo looked comfortable with his shot, but a step slow with the groin injury. He's still feeling his way with Flip's offense, often overpenetrating and ending up with nowhere to go. Evans looked very good on the boards and scored from the perimeter, while Dupree seemed a little tight and missed some early shots. Converted a nice three-point play on the break from Delfino, though. McDyess didn't do very much, but seemed content to keep things flowing. The second unit will have to put some time in getting him his pet shots. Refs mostly swallowed their whistles, the Pistons smothered a bunch of shots early and kept their own turnovers to a minimum. Chicago looks like it will have a big season from Chandler, but their bench looks a lot thinner now than it did last year.
Mo Evans' offense I saw that he scored 12 points tonight. Now that's what I call bench production. Yahtzee!
