Game Preview: After Necessary Team Meeting, Pistons Face Bulls
The Detroit Pistons(14-15) face the Chicago Bulls(13-13) tonight at 8pm EST. The Pistons are on the road for this game, at the Bulls' home court, the United Center.
The Bulls enter this game on a three-game skid, struggling mightily, just as Detroit is. Chicago dropped their last game to the Milwaukee Bucks in rough fashion. Dwyane Wade scored 12 points, while Bobby Portis added 10 points. No other player for Chicago scored in double digits. Jimmy Butler, who is averaging 24.8 points per game this season, scored just seven points on 3-14 shooting. Before their loss to Milwaukee, Chicago fell to Milwaukee again, this time on the road, and to the young Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls have dropped six of their last eight games.
As bad as Chicago's struggles have been, Detroit's have been just as bad, or even worse. The Pistons have been blown out in back to back games, first to the Washington Wizards and then the Indiana Pacers. The Pistons held a team meeting after their 105-90 loss to the Pacers.
Marcus Morris said the following to the media after the game:
"I did a lot of the talking. I said at the end of the meeting that we have to make a decision. Everybody go home tonight and decide on what you want to do. Do you want to be a winning team or do you want to continue to get embarrassed? Are you going to play for the next man beside you or are you going to play for yourself?"
The Pistons just went through a soft part of their schedule. The troubling thing is that they struggled through it, dropping games to not only the Wizards and Pacers but also a game to the Philadelphia 76ers as well. After their game versus Chicago, Detroit has a three-game homestand with games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jon Leuer(back spasms) is questionable to play tonight against the Bulls. He missed their last games against Indiana.
Probable Starting Lineups:
Detroit Pistons
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Marcus Morris
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Andre Drummond
Chicago Bulls
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Taj Gibson
C: Robin Lopez
With both teams struggling, a losing streak has to bust. It'll be interesting to see how the Pistons come out after their embarrassing last two games.
Featured image: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports