Write On Sports LLC - "Bulls still alive, but not really" by Jake Lloyd

Bulls still alive, but not really

2007-05-13 22:32:23 | By: Jake Lloyd

You could see it happening on the TV screen in front of you.

One of the biggest fourth-quarter collapses in the history of the NBA playoffs. Up 21 entering the final period, the Chicago Bulls were helping the Detroit Pistons seal their fate on this not-so-motherly Mother's Day.

They were fouling Chauncey Billups -- one of the game's best free throw shooters -- which stopped the clock and allowed the Pistons to inch closer. They had become stagnant on offense against Detroit's 3-2 zone that they had exploited all game.

And they had become careless with the ball. After Kirk Hinrich fumbled away a routine bounce pass, teammate Luol Deng threw his hands up in the air as if to say, "Are we really pulling this collapse?"

The answer to Deng's arm gestures was “No.” Not quite. The Bulls managed to hold off the Pistons down the stretch Sunday for a 102-87 victory to cut Detroit's lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series to 3-1.

It was a nice win for Chicago's young players, what analysts call a "confidence-builder," but as far as this series is concerned -- barring the Pistons suffer from food-poisoning -- it was merely a two-day extension for them.

If Detroit had played with the intensity and urgency it showed in the fourth quarter throughout the game, it would have won. Which begs the question, why? Where was the intensity earlier?

The Pistons cut a 21-point deficit to seven points with about 4 minutes remaining, and they had the ball. Then Hinrich flopped on a drive by Billups, drawing a charge, and Ben Gordon hit his biggest shot of a series in which he's been more broke than a homeless man -- a 3-pointer that extended Chicago's lead to a comfortable 10 points.

A few free throws later, it was in the books.

Should Chicago's players feel good about the way they fought to grab the big lead and then counter Detroit's comeback? Sure.

But come Tuesday night in Detroit, what happened Sunday afternoon likely won't matter. Sure, Hinrich will likely shoot his jumper with a renewed confidence after scoring 19 points, including 15 in the first half, in Game 4. Ditto Gordon, who also poured in 19, including two huge fourth-quarter 3-pointers. And Deng, who had game-highs with 25 points and 13 rebounds, will certainly play aggressively, not scared of Tayshaun Prince or anyone else the Pistons throw at him.

But if Detroit comes out, as I expect, with a killer instinct from the opening tap, Game 5 will not be close in the fourth quarter. And there will be no late comeback.

I think it was good for Detroit to lose Sunday, for it to fail at becoming just the fifth team in NBA history to win its first eight playoff games. It brought the Pistons down to earth. Made them realize they're not invincible.

While I've liked the Pistons' attitude this entire playoffs -- unlike last year. While they've made all the right comments... When a team wins game after game, it's natural to become a little overconfident, a bit relaxed.

How else can you explain the Pistons being absolutely dominated on the boards Sunday (51-33)? Chicago had much more energy and enthusiasm for the first three quarters. Ben Wallace, who used to be the guy who would pump up his Detroit teammates, was on the other side, not letting his Bulls' comrades throw in the towel. He had his best game of the series -- by far -- with 17 rebounds.

Big Ben n' his boys won't back down on Tuesday. They'll lay it all on the line. But so will the Pistons. They knew they were flying back to Detroit Sunday night. Now they just have to play another game. They won't tolerate the idea of another flight back to Chicago, however.

Billups scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter Sunday. Expect him to score something similar to those two touchdowns in the opening quarter on Tuesday. The Bulls won't be the only team playing with a sense of urgenAnd they'll be the only team flying back to Chicago late Tuesday night.