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Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons: Takeaways from a blowout
The Chicago Bulls bounce back from two disappointing losses to the Milwaukee Bucks over the weekend with a 31-point victory over the Detroit Pistons.
After a three-game losing streak to the Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday night’s game against Detroit provided an opportunity to pick up a win for the Bulls. During the last week, Chicago had fallen below .500 and to the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff race. A win against the Pistons could swing the Bulls in the right direction, with a couple of manageable games against Washington and Charlotte to follow.
The Bulls came out firing, and hitting, early on, scoring 69 points in the first half. Their 34 point lead entering the third quarter was the biggest halftime lead posted by a team this season.
Detroit played sluggish the entire game, missing many of their shots. There had been rumblings of locker-room issues for the Pistons, and they didn’t seem nearly as in-sync as they did when these two teams faced off two weeks ago. Reggie Jackson’s seven points and Andre Drummond‘s four boards were indicative of an off-night for Detroit.
Normally, the Bulls would stoop to a struggling team’s level of play. They didn’t, and a fairly important win is the result.
And now, here are a couple takeaways:
Dec 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34) while he attempts a shot during the first quarter of the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago scores often and early against Detroit
The Bulls’ offense thrashed the Pistons from the jump, taking the lead on the first possession and never giving it up. They scored 35 points in the first quarter on 81 percent shooting. Many of their shots were contested, but falling, giving worry that their production would regress to the mean eventually.
It didn’t.
Chicago’s efficiency dropped in the second period, but they still put another 34 points on the board, giving them plenty margin of error for the third and fourth.
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The scoring wealth was distributed well across the Bulls’ rotation. They were making the extra pass, finding open shots and hitting them. Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez combined for 30 points, shooting 100 percent and 70 percent respectively. Lopez’s post-game seemed too much to handle for Pistons’ center Drummond, as his hooks eluded Drummond for most of the night.
The Bulls’ 49 made field goals on 34 assists was reminiscent of their first few games of the season. Rondo contributed 14 on his own, playing one of his better games of the season. Time and time again, Chicago managed to make one more pass to find an even better shot than the one they had before. Take this play, where Denzel Valentine finds Cristiano Felicio in the middle, who kicks it to the opposite corner for a Nikola Mirotic 3-pointer.
— Daniel Coughlin (@xvanwilderx) December 20, 2016
It helps that shooters were making their shots. Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott in particular provided the shooting the Bulls have been expecting from them.
Dec 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Doug McDermott (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Detroit Pistons at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Doug and Niko’s bench scoring lifted the Bulls even higher
Fred Hoiberg’s normal rotation is subbing Dwyane Wade earlier in the first quarter so that he can place him with four bench players at the beginning of the second. Due to Mirotic’s early-season struggles and McDermott’s concussion, Wade’s scoring was relied on heavily in the second unit.
Chicago’s bench scored two points less than Detroit’s, thanks largely in part to Jon Leuers’ 16 points for the Pistons. But the Bulls’ reserves don’t need to blow other teams’ reserves out of the water. Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and the starting front court provide enough offensive firepower on most nights.
It has been nights where Jimmy and Dwyane take on all offensive responsibility, whether Niko’s missing or Rondo is turning the ball over, when the Bulls fall flat, especially in late game situations.
Niko looked comfortable shooting the ball against Detroit. He was playing at the four, his best position, getting looks and knocking them down. He hit three of his six 3-point attempts and added four more points for his 13.
McDermott only made one 3-pointer, but he nailed some pull-up jumpers and even caught a lob pass from Wade on the break.
— Daniel Coughlin (@xvanwilderx) December 20, 2016
Felicio and Jerian Grant both contributed six points each and valuable minutes in an all-around solid game for Chicago’s backups.
This game was a crucial win for Chicago, and they showed up against a Detroit team that simply did not. But as always, with this Bulls team, it’s important to take things one game at a time, because one night they’re beating a team by 30, and another they’re on the receiving end of a rout.
