PistonPowered
Fansided

Pistons earn tight win over Bulls

By Tim Thielke

Jan 18, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of the game against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls defeated the Pistons 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of the game against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls defeated the Pistons 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

In a very important game, the Pistons nearly managed to throw away some great opportunities. But they held on to win a tight one in spite of Jimmy Butler’s monster night. They are now all but shoo-ins to the playoffs.

94. 64. Final. 90. 24

REGGIE JACKSON. D. Jackson held up just fine defensively. But his mark was E’Twaun Moore, so that’s not really saying much. And when competing against a backup, Jackson really needs to feast on the offensive end. The poor shooting sucks, but I understand that does sometimes happen. But all the turnovers were unacceptable. And these were mostly very much Jackson’s fault. Don’t be deceived by all the free throws. Half of those were earned by the team as opposed to by Jackson–the kind given up by a team trying to rally at the end.. PG. Pistons

D. Caldwell-Pope could have afforded to be more assertive, but probably not much on the offensive end. He had his hands full trying to contain Butler who was flat out playing some ball. But KCP did not adjust well, he didn’t interfere with passing lanes, and he really needed to get his body in the way more to keep Butler off the boards.. SG. Pistons. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE

B+. Morris continues on his late season tear. He didn’t have as big a night tonight as his last one against the Mavericks (that was, after all, second to his career high), but his strong shooting continued, most notably with a couple huge threes. He is now 32-51 from deep in his last dozen games. That’s nuts.. SF. Pistons. MARCUS MORRIS

A-. Tobias Harris was the Pistons’ bell cow in this one. Nobody else was able to scratch the score sheet so consistently. And he probably played the best defense of any Piston as well.. SF. Pistons. TOBIAS HARRIS

C-. Drummond got his numbers very effectively. Besides struggling to contain Gasol, though, he took himself out of the game with dreadful free throw shooting. You can’t get a good grade if you can’t be effective enough to stay on the court.. C. Pistons. ANDRE DRUMMOND

B+. Blake may not have been able to stay in front of Brooks, but he still outplayed him overall and made the most of his very limited minutes.. PG. Pistons. STEVE BLAKE

C. Pistons. ARON BAYNES. D+. The only thing particularly worthwhile about Baynes in this game is that the Bulls couldn’t foul him with impunity. He did not make the most of his minutes on either end.

B+. Tolliver hit a pair of threes in under 10 minutes of playing time. That’s pretty much hitting his role on the head.. PF. Pistons. ANTHONY TOLLIVER

SF. Pistons. STANLEY JOHNSON. D-. Stanley Johnson wasn’t making bad decisions, but his shot was off and his defense was bad, so he was pretty much worthless on the court. Credit to Van Gundy for not giving him too much playing time in a very high leverage game.

B. Normally I’m opposed to Van Gundy overplaying his starters, but this was the most important game left in the regular season. I’m ok with his giving them more burn than they really should have had otherwise.. Head Coach. Pistons. STAN VAN GUNDY

Home/Pistons News