Detroit Pistons VS Chicago BUlls



*Tip-Off: 7:30pm ET Thursday, Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI

TV: FS Detroit / Radio: 1130am WDFN Da Fan

The Spread



The Outlook

The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons both know they're going to have a tough first-round series once the playoffs begin.

While the veteran Pistons have accepted this fate, the young Bulls are still trying to gain momentum and avoid a first-round matchup with Cleveland.

Chicago looks to clinch at least the seventh seed with its 12th win in 15 games and relegate Detroit to the eighth when they meet Monday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

With Saturday's 113-106 victory over Charlotte, the seventh-place Bulls (40-40) moved a game ahead of the Pistons, 106-102 losers to Indiana earlier in the evening. While a playoff berth is somewhat unexpected for Chicago -- which was 12th in the Eastern Conference at the end of January -- the Bulls aren't satisfied with simply qualifying for the postseason.

"We know we're playing for more than just to make the playoffs," said John Salmons, who scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter Saturday. "We want to try to move up as far as we can."

Chicago can avoid the eighth seed and a first-round matchup with Cleveland with a victory over the Pistons (39-41). The Bulls also are still within reach of passing Philadelphia for the sixth seed and the right to open the playoffs against Orlando. The seventh seed faces Boston.

"The top three teams are really good," said Ben Gordon, who scored 39 points against the Bobcats. "I don't know if it matters much, but it would be a lot better to not play Cleveland. They've been playing really well."

While the prospect of avoiding LeBron James and the Cavaliers sounds appealing to Gordon, nothing is set yet.

If the Pistons win Monday and finish the regular season with the same record as the Bulls, Detroit will be seeded ahead of Chicago because it has a better conference record.

Winning on the road has not come easy for the Bulls, who have lost two straight and nine of 11 away from the United Center. Chicago lost 104-98 at Detroit on Dec. 23, and has dropped five of seven at The Palace of Auburn Hills since the 2005-06 season.

The Bulls have been surging lately, though.

With rookie Derrick Rose running the offense while Gordon and Salmons provide the bulk of the scoring, Chicago climbed back to .500 for the first time since Nov. 15 with Saturday's win.

The Bulls, who were a season-worst nine games below .500 on Jan. 25 and were still eight under on March 13, have won four in a row and 11 of 14. They have not been over .500 since they were 2-1 on Nov. 1.

While Chicago is trying to stay positive in its march to the playoffs, Detroit isn't as optimistic.

"We're already near the bottom in the playoffs, so at this point, regardless who we play, we can't worry about who we're going to play," said Richard Hamilton, who scored a team-high 23 points Saturday. "We've just got to know that we made it to the playoffs and hopefully we can have a run."

The Pistons are making their eighth straight playoff appearance, but for a team that won 59 games and made its sixth consecutive trip to the conference finals a year ago, this season has been a disappointment.

Detroit is limping toward the postseason. It's lost 10 of 16 and is without Allen Iverson (sore back) for the rest of the season.

"There is no worst-case scenario for us right now, the way we've been playing all year," Tayshaun Prince said. "The best-case scenario is we got in the playoffs, so hopefully we can go in there and do some damage. I don't think being the eight-seed that we're in a situation we can't handle. Any situation would have been tough for us, the way we've been playing, the ups and downs we've had all season."

The Stats

I think we're looking pretty decent offensively (still have to tone down amount of jumpshots and drive more), and im really curious to see if we're gonna rest starters.

Chicago is 12-28 on the road, but 28-12 at home?

Wow.

Go Pistons!

C'mon let's beat the Cows.

quote:

Pistons.com Message Boards Terms of Use Message Boards Palace Sports & Entertainment Forums Hop To Forum Categories Detroit Pistons Hop To Forums Pistons Team Talk Official Game Thread: Pistons VS Bulls 4/13/09 7:30pm FS Detroit

Moderators: darko99, Dr. Evil, Loucifr, Pistons.com, Pistons.com Moderator 2, more...

Any links for the big game? thanks

31-31 in the first quarter? What the heck, is this the Big East or something?

wow the Chicago sports announcers are destroying our 2nd unit, theyre like "they have absolutely no one out there to score." grrrrrrrr

Watching Curry coach is really funny!

Afflalo!

Tay is WEAK!

Stuckey is playing well so far!

'Sheed get ur *** in the paint!

Stuckey is slowly but surely becoming a hell of a point guard. He is learning when to pass, and when to look to be agressive. I'm loving his last fews games, hopefully it will carry into the playoffs.

WTF is wrong with Rip?

why do we suck in the last 3 minutes of the game...can't score..foul, and give 3 point plays up....man this is hard to watch.....I say we blow it.

Why did Stuckey take that jumper?

They are pulling another of their infamous 4th quarter suicides.

Hello Cavs, here we go!

quote:

Originally posted by pistonfan76:
why do we suck in the last 3 minutes of the game...can't score..foul, and give 3 point plays up....man this is hard to watch.....I say we blow it.

You need smart coaching to close out games... an' we ain't got it.

And where is everyone?! This is a pretty big game despite the lackluster season and people have just given up on the Pistons.

Sad... that an inevitable bad season would make so-called Pistons fans turn their backs just like that after 7 STRAIGHT years of winning.