Putting Pistons in Place

 

The Bulls have had struggles with the Detroit Pistons this season.  After beating them at the United Center in November, they lost both games in Auburn Hills.  A win was needed at home Friday to salvage a split in the season series.  They earned just that to the tune of 88-82.

The first quarter started well before the Pistons came back to take a one-point lead at the end.  Then, the Bulls woke up and outscored their guests 22-9 for a 12-point halftime advantage.  Detroit then tied it to finish the third and kept it close throughout the fourth before Aaron Brooks made some big shots.  Pau Gasol (26 points, 10 rebounds) snuffed out their remaining hopes with an offensive rebound, putback dunk and subsequent free throw.

Jimmy Butler looked confident all evening and it showed with 18 points.  Nikola Mirotic added 11 off the bench while Taj Gibson finished one board shy of joining Gasol in the double-double club (10 and nine).  Joakim Noah also came close to that club, but had 10 assists and nine rebounds instead.  It was yet another reminder that Noah has once again taken on the offensive facilitator role in Derrick Rose's absence.

The win, coupled with Toronto's loss to Brooklyn, returned the Bulls to the third seed in the Eastern Conference.  With six games left in the regular season, there's not much time left to make a case as to where they should be come playoff time.  Those who don't know who they'll be playing in the first round can't afford to take any games off.  It's like choosing what kind of path you think you can take towards advancing during the postseason.

Four of the Bulls' remaining six games come on the road.  The final three of those come in Orlando, Miami and Brooklyn.  Each of those contests should be winnable, but we know how the Bulls have struggled in games like that.  Even with Philadelphia coming to the United Center and Atlanta closing the season there (likely with most, if not all starters sitting), those have a chance to be disappointments too.

The first of this six-game stretch comes Easter Sunday in Cleveland.  Although the Central is still winnable, the Cavaliers can likely put the final stamp on that race if they beat the Bulls on national TV.  Of course, a return by Rose would be a far more intriguing storyline.  Division title or no division title, stars rule all in the NBA, especially when they've been out for an extended period.