Still Alive for Game Five

By Benjy Lipsman in News on May 14, 2007 3:00PM

Down 3-0 and facing elimination from the playoffs, the Bulls finally beat Detroit on Sunday, winning 102-87.

Unlike Game 3, the Bulls were able to hold onto their sizable lead this time. The Bulls extended a seven-point halftime lead to as much as 23 points before Detroit mounted a comeback. Detroit got as close as 87-80 before the Bulls again pulled away to close out the game.

For the first time in the series, the Bulls actually played like the Bulls we've watched all season. They shot 49% from the field — they'd yet to break 35% until Sunday. They also outrebounded Detroit 51-33 after Detroit averaged, in the first three games, nine more boards than the Bulls.

While the Bulls' overall better shooting and rebounding certainly allowed them to win Game 4, one has to wonder whether Bulls coach Scott Skiles made a mistake in Game 3 by not getting Tyrus Thomas back into the game in the second half. The rookie had given the team some much-needed energy during the first half of Game 3 while the Bulls extended their lead. Even as the starters let the lead slip away, he remained on the bench. Sunday, however, it was a different story. The rookie contributed eight points and four rebounds during the 4th quarter. Might he have been a difference maker in Game 3?

Or, did Detroit just not care enough to close out the Bulls in Game 4? With a 3-0 lead that no team's ever overcome, and playing on their opponent's court, did Detroit let up a bit? Will they simply turn it back on once they have the chance to close the series out in front of their own fans?

Ultimately, we feel that's probably the case. Sure there's talk of an improbable comeback — we'll take that seriously after the Bulls tie the series up at 3-3. In reality, all the Bulls did was cut their summer vacation by a few days.

Photo by Reuters/John Gress.