[外電] Scouts Inc. update: Bulls vs. Pistons, Game 6

[kolay (土耳其的天空)]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/insider/columns/
story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=ScoutingBullsPistons-Game6

Scouts Inc. update: Bulls vs. Pistons, Game 6
Thorpe

By David Thorpe
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Insider

Updated: May 17, 2007

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‧ Bulls-Pistons series scouting report | Series page



How does a team look so bad for three games, then suddenly change into the
team many of us expected to see all along?

And how does a team look so powerful for three games, then just as suddenly
descend into the team many of us feared would show up before the series began?

The vagaries of every NBA team, and game, are the essence and the beauty of
the sport. Like the weather, forecasters can describe and predict the
conditions that create an action or event, but whether it actually happens or
not is a different matter entirely.

But there is one common denominator in basketball that helps define winners
and losers, one aspect of the game that can lift a team mired in a rut or
mitigate the play of a team performing well -- genuine confidence, or the
lack of it.

Heading into Game 4, the Bulls finally relaxed as they realized it was "not
to be" this year. They still competed hard, due to pride and their feisty
coach, but they were able to settle down. The result was an excellent
shooting display that led them to victory No. 1. That one victory, coupled
with the way they won it (their first great shooting night after three poor
ones) gave the Bulls some real confidence that if they could just shoot as
they normally do, their team can at least give the Pistons a game on the
road. With no expectations to actually beat a Pistons team in a closeout
game, their inspired, relaxed, and confident play led to an even better night
from the field through most of Game 5. "Team Intensity" actually played
better by playing with less intensity (at least on offense).

At the same time, the Pistons are a team that thrives on attitude and
perceived disrespect from others. They rolled through Chicago with laser-like
focus for three games, then relaxed in Game 4 and got beat, with very poor
shooting and shot selection.

Unlike Chicago, they are a team that needs an edge, a reason to focus and
execute. Their game of "grind, grind, grind" is based on playing one
possession at a time and making the right play more often than their
opponent. But now that their domination over the Bulls has been pierced, the
Pistons' collective psyche has taken a shot. Long before Game 5 was in the
books, the Pistons looked like a defeated team.

So now we have a team trailing 3-2 but with all the momentum and confidence,
and the team leading 3-2 genuinely concerned that they let the Bulls back
into the series.

The best way for Detroit to get back control and ultimately end the series
falls to a few factors:

1. The Pistons' big men must get back on defense to protect the paint while
allowing their perimeter players to extend and defend hot shooters like Ben
Gordon and Luol Deng. Perhaps they will send fewer guys to the offensive
glass.

2. Detroit had success posting Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton early in
the series -- it got them some easy looks and it served to slow the game
down. The Bulls will try to front them more inside but then are more
vulnerable on the offensive glass. Either way, the Pistons need more from
their perimeter players, as their post guys don't seem capable of carrying
them.

3. The Pistons need to find Gordon early on offense -- and maybe let Tayshaun
Prince guard him for some spells to try and cool him. He is the most capable
Bulls player at getting red-hot and igniting the home crowd and the Bulls'
offense. His quick release makes him tough to slow with just one guy, but
Prince's length could be an answer.

Chicago was able to get many, many open looks in all three of their losses.
With confidence, they are now hitting those shots. As they now expect to win
Game 6, this could affect their mental apporach. Will they tighten up like
they did early in the series, or will they stay loose and keep firing away?

Detroit's players have acknowledged that they let up a bit in the last two
games, but as they should have learned last year, they are not great at
flipping that "focused" switch back on. Game 5 was the latest proof of that.
The Bulls played very "vanilla" defense for most of the game, with strong
help-and-recover tactics but few if any tricks. Detroit must display patience
against this type of defense, and hope that Billups can start hitting tough
shots again too.

Chicago has figured out that quick ball movement and looking inside will get
them shots against Detroit's zone. Consequently, the Pistons may play more
man-to-man defense this game, so it is important for Chicago to attack the
rim and finish with strength.

I expect Detroit to find its rhythm again and lock back into playoff mode.
But these Bulls are feeling it again, and have the great perimeter weapons
plus the energy of Ben Wallace and Tyrus Thomas inside. And P.J. Brown is
coming off a terrific game too. As I speculated last time, the Bulls are
dangerous when they are loose and confident. In the best game of the series
thus far, the Bulls force a Game 7.

PREDICTION: Chicago wins Game 6

ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. will provide detailed scouting reports for each NBA
playoff series and each NBA playoff game.

David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and the executive director of the
Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he works as a personal coach
for Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat), Orien Greene (Indiana Pacers), Alexander
Johnson (Memphis Grizzlies) and Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings).

--
 "We'll see them bandwagon ass-cats come May and June," - Rasheed Wallace

--
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