GT: Bulls VS Pistons October 20, 2021

[whitehops]

pistons fan here! obviously everyone is super hyped for the season opener and i'm glad we're playing your team first (twice this week!). you guys had a lot of changes to your roster and i like your chances to come third in the east (behind MIL and BKN, no offense).

i just want to say not to overreact to your team's defense tomorrow. cade hasn't been ruled out yet but i think it's pretty obvious he isn't playing and our offense is terrible with hayes trying to run the show. i'm expecting you guys to win but hopefully it's an entertaining game with no injuries!

[FriedRise]

Can't wait to crush them. Detroit, along with New York and Cleveland I take great pleasure in absolutely destroying

New York is going to be some knock down drag out fights I feel. One that is how Thibs teams generally play, and we are trying to prove something against the "old" Bulls regime. Plus we are likely going to be fighting for similar seeding position this season. NYK "might" be better this year if Kemba works out. They also might fall off a cliff. They will for sure be fun games. I feel confident we can wipe the floor with Detroit and Cleveland though for sure. We are that much better this year.

I think I recall seeing a blurb about how hard the Knicks were playing in the preseason... I remember something about Julius Randle diving for a loose ball at the end of a preseason game. With the history that Thibs/DRose/Taj all have with the team/city and Joakim being in the house on Oct. 28th, the energy in the United Center for this game should be interesting. I already have my tickets so I am ready.

We should beat the Pistons tomorrow.

Umm, Julius Randle hit a buzzer beater to beat the Wizards.

A buzzer beater. In pre-season.

That means Thibs played him ALL the way until the end of the game!

[Dresden]

pistons fan here! obviously everyone is super hyped for the season opener and i'm glad we're playing your team first (twice this week!). you guys had a lot of changes to your roster and i like your chances to come third in the east (behind MIL and BKN, no offense).

i just want to say not to overreact to your team's defense tomorrow. cade hasn't been ruled out yet but i think it's pretty obvious he isn't playing and our offense is terrible with hayes trying to run the show. i'm expecting you guys to win but hopefully it's an entertaining game with no injuries!

Thanks for the vote of confidence. The consensus here seems to be we'll finish 6th-8th, although personally I think 3rd is not out of the question at all if Lavine stays healthy.

[cool007]

Just have to make sure to keep Jerami Grant in check. I don't think they have a chance at hanging if he struggles.

Grant is their PF, so I guess that means that Pat and Javonte will have primary responsibility for guarding him. Can they stay with Grant? I believe Javonte can, but have my questions about Pat. Will be interesting to watch.

Pistons will run PnR with Grant and Stewart, in an attempt to force Vuc to guard 2 on 1, or have to defend Grant one-on-one. Pat and Javonte will need to go over the top of the screen and stay attached to Grant, or Grant will score a bunch. Can Pat and Javonte get over screens the way we have seen Lonzo and Caruso do it? They better, or we may have to switch Lonzo or Caruso on to Grant.

I'm not concerned with PAW or Javonte guarding him. Unlike in previous seasons, we're not leaving players 1 on 1 on an island. If they get beat, the rotation and help defense will be there. Unless Grant gets uncharacteristically hot from 3, we should be able to mitigate the damage.

As for Vuc, he should be okay. We're not switching like we usually do, and he'll stay in drop position on the screens. Will be up to PAW and Javonte to make sure they get around those screens. If not, and Vuc ends up having to leave Stewart, I'm comfortable with letting Stewart beat us from deep. If that's what beats us, then so be it.

This is a brand new season and a team. I think it's time that other teams worry about our top players (Lavine, Demar, Vuc, etc) than us worrying about guys like Grant, Stewart etc.

I am not worried 1 bit.

[Michael Jackson]

pistons fan here! obviously everyone is super hyped for the season opener and i'm glad we're playing your team first (twice this week!). you guys had a lot of changes to your roster and i like your chances to come third in the east (behind MIL and BKN, no offense).

i just want to say not to overreact to your team's defense tomorrow. cade hasn't been ruled out yet but i think it's pretty obvious he isn't playing and our offense is terrible with hayes trying to run the show. i'm expecting you guys to win but hopefully it's an entertaining game with no injuries!

I actually love what the Pistons have assembled. I do not expect much from them this year but I think you will have some great flashes of what is going to come. Just don’t want those flashes happening this week lol.

[bad knees]

Grant is their PF, so I guess that means that Pat and Javonte will have primary responsibility for guarding him. Can they stay with Grant? I believe Javonte can, but have my questions about Pat. Will be interesting to watch.

Pistons will run PnR with Grant and Stewart, in an attempt to force Vuc to guard 2 on 1, or have to defend Grant one-on-one. Pat and Javonte will need to go over the top of the screen and stay attached to Grant, or Grant will score a bunch. Can Pat and Javonte get over screens the way we have seen Lonzo and Caruso do it? They better, or we may have to switch Lonzo or Caruso on to Grant.

I'm not concerned with PAW or Javonte guarding him. Unlike in previous seasons, we're not leaving players 1 on 1 on an island. If they get beat, the rotation and help defense will be there. Unless Grant gets uncharacteristically hot from 3, we should be able to mitigate the damage.

As for Vuc, he should be okay. We're not switching like we usually do, and he'll stay in drop position on the screens. Will be up to PAW and Javonte to make sure they get around those screens. If not, and Vuc ends up having to leave Stewart, I'm comfortable with letting Stewart beat us from deep. If that's what beats us, then so be it.

This is a brand new season and a team. I think it's time that other teams worry about our top players (Lavine, Demar, Vuc, etc) than us worrying about guys like Grant, Stewart etc.

I am not worried 1 bit.

The best way to stop Grant is for the Bulls' guards to overwhelm the Pistons' backcourt. And I expect that to happen. Ball, Lavine and Caruso should just dominate Hayes/F. Jackson/gimpy Cade/J. Jackson/Joseph/Lee or whoever else DET tries at the guard position. I think we are going to blitz this team. Let's go.

[Jvaughn]

Detroit just announced Cade out. Should be easier to dial in on Grant now.

[weneeda2guard]

What I remember from the Pistons last season was not necessarily the lack of talent but the coaching was pretty poor. I am very interested in what they will throw at us as 1st games of seasons especially at home teams go hard. Will take a few weeks before a team like Detroit lays down and accepts they are just a tanking team primed for lottery odds.

With that said I know many felt we had our chemistry together I dont think our chemistry is all the way there yet. I think at times in the preseason roles were clashing and it's going to take a sec before these guys realize where they fit in the offense. At times derozan took control like he was the number 1 here when quite honestly he number 3 behind lavine and vooch. I also felt ball at times wasn't as aggressive offensively as he was the 1st couple of games. He needs to not over pass and keep the defense honest by knocking down a few outside shots early.

Another thing I'm looking for is what will be our actual bench rotation. I think it's clear caruso green and alize will get minutes but after them how short will Billy keep the rotation are we going 8,9 or 10 deep everynight? If we go 10 I would like to see caruso, Green, alize, Derrick Jones Jr with a starter on the floor with them but that leaves out guys like Bradley and Troy brown jr. Lot to still see

[Repeat 3-peat]

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[GreekAlex]

I'll be disappointed if we don't win by more than a dozen. Betting line is only 3 or 4- if I were into that, I'd lay the mortgage on Bulls covering that.

I’m a Piston’s fan and I’ve been staring at that line since preseason ended.

Sure seems off and then you factor in that Cade is out and other Pistons are banged up.

[Michael Jackson]

I'll be disappointed if we don't win by more than a dozen. Betting line is only 3 or 4- if I were into that, I'd lay the mortgage on Bulls covering that.

I’m a Piston’s fan and I’ve been staring at that line since preseason ended.

Sure seems off and then you factor in that Cade is out and other Pistons are banged up.

Maybe, but first game of the year at home, usually the team will bring it. Both teams have a lot to figure out system wise too with new pieces. I don’t find it to be too crazy of a line.

[heckinjohn]

Game day is finally here. Bulls by 25.

[MalagaBulls]

I'm pumped. Will try to stay up. Who thinks we hit 1K posts?

[BeKuK]

Finally the time has come! GAMEDAY.

It's unbelievable how much I am longing for this season. I'm especially looking forward to watch the wonderful game and BB-IQ of Lonzo Ball. This dude is a kind of a genius.

[sco]

I think there is way too much Kool-Aid drunken here (maybe with alcohol added). First, it's a road game and I think we will struggle with our shooting. Second, I don't like our match-ups at PF and C tonight. We have a shot at winning, but I think double-digits is way too much to assume.

I see 3 keys:

1) Making open 3's - we've run hot and cold...it's normal for teams to struggle shooting 3's on the road to start seasons.
2) Stopping Grant - I expect Pat to struggle, but it is a great early test. If he struggles early, I'd love to see Green get lots of burn.
3) Stopping their C's - Vuc needs to give as good as he gets and get some decent defensive support from Bradley/Alize.

[BahamaBull]

I will be happy if we win by 1...A W is a W.

[weneeda2guard]

I predict we win by 10 points. Pistons will fight its their home opener I think it stays close til the 4th then we begin to pull away. We will just be too much down the stretch big buckets by derozan and lavine puts it away. Jerimi grant has a great game though.

[weneeda2guard]

I think there is way too much Kool-Aid drunken here (maybe with alcohol added). First, it's a road game and I think we will struggle with our shooting. Second, I don't like our match-ups at PF and C tonight. We have a shot at winning, but I think double-digits is way too much to assume.

I see 3 keys:

1) Making open 3's - we've run hot and cold...it's normal for teams to struggle shooting 3's on the road to start seasons.
2) Stopping Grant - I expect Pat to struggle, but it is a great early test. If he struggles early, I'd love to see Green get lots of burn.
3) Stopping their C's - Vuc needs to give as good as he gets and get some decent defensive support from Bradley/Alize.

Yea I think all the 20 plus point win people are not being realistic Pistons are going to play their toughest probably that they play all season considering it's their home opener. Its early in the season and teams like the Pistons don't realize they are lottery bound yet that doesn't come for another month or so for them.. Plus I still think we have some things to figure out on defense and offense. I just think we will be too much for them at the end pull away late and win by about 10.

[FriedRise]

The line is CHI -5, so if we can beat them by at least 5 points, I'm happy.

[Jvaughn]

I'm pumped. Will try to stay up. Who thinks we hit 1K posts?

I miss the good ol days when each GT would be 100 pages long.