The Chicago Bulls took on the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night in Chicago. What should’ve been an easy game really wasn’t, at least in the beginning. The Bulls flaws were seen evidently in the opening quarter & the energy from the team just wasn’t there. Although the first quarter was brutal, Billy Donovan figured it out along with the players—eventually clicking on every cylinder known to man. Dismantling the Pistons was quite important as the Bulls took on the Brooklyn Nets the following night. It was an amazing team effort & a fun win. Routing any team is extremely enjoyable. I attended that game & it’s great to see the United Center have that much energy again, something we’ve definitely been lacking the past few years. Cade is definitely a bright spot for the Pistons along with Saddiq Bey—a couple young but solid players. The Pistons were without their best player, Jerami Grant but I don’t think it would’ve made that much of a difference if he had played. With no doubt, the Bulls looked like the number one team in the eastern conference.
They did not look like the number one team in the eastern conference in the first quarter though. Billy Donovan had to call a timeout early in the game with the Bulls being outrebounded & outhustled on what seemed to be every play. That’s when the Chicago Native, Ayo Dsonmu, checked in. It seems that every time he checks in the crowd gets going & so does the entire team's energy, he just carries himself in a professional manner. He brought in instant offense with great transition play & hitting those corner threes. The Bulls tried to go inside to Vooch but Vooch looked like he was going to have another off night with him missing point-blank shots. Easy shots weren’t falling for anyone & it looked like it was going to be an ugly game. The Bulls led 28-27 at the end of the opening period, all thanks to Ayo. The second quarter was more of a defensive showing for the team & especially the rook; Ayo was given the task to guard Cade & did a very good job. The Bulls showed more effort rebounding & it was a team effort. Zach got going in the second with eight points but the bright spot of the quarter was Coby coming off the bench & providing instant offense with nine points in the quarter. The Bulls were able to get out more in the fastbreak & the ball movement was phenomenal. The Bulls looked like they were starting to run away with this game leading 61-52 at the half. Although, they did allow a last second offensive rebound & tip in at the buzzer. Billy Donovan’s frustration was quite visible.
Then came the third quarter. The Bulls came out on a mission going on a 17-0 run to start the second half. The ball was moving well & shots were falling. The defensive integrity had increased & the Bulls had active hands. Vooch came alive in the third quarter & basically took over scoring 16 points in the quarter while the entire Pistons team only had 14 in the quarter. The third quarter was quite the show & the Bulls put the game away. The starters barely played in the fourth quarter, as expected & the rest of the team continued to play extremely well. Zach finished the game with 10 points, nine rebounds & seven assists; for the first time in what seems forever, Zach didn’t score or shoot a lot but the Bulls still won, something that wouldn’t have happened the year prior.
The Bulls looked fantastic in their win against Detroit & hoped to carry this into their game the next night against arguably the best team in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls are 2-0 so far in that matchup but Kyrie Irving will make an appearance this time along with the Nets needing to make a statement win. KD is playing like an MVP but still needs more help from his teammates. The Bulls would need to click on every cylinder to beat the Nets & continue their reign over the Eastern Conference.
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