來源： http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/insider/columns/ story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=ScoutingBullsPistons-Game5 Scouts Inc. update: Bulls vs. Pistons, Game 5 Insider Thorpe By David Thorpe Scouts Inc. Archive ‧ Bulls-Pistons series scouting report | Series page While basketball is a complex game, filled with scores of offensive sets and dozens of defensive strategies, oftentimes winning boils down to the simplest of things: Who is more fundamental on block outs? Who has taken better care of the basketball? Which bench plays with more energy? Ditto for the starters. Who has gotten to the free-throw line more often? However, in this series, answering those questions alone would not indicate, necessarily, the outcome of each game. Chicago took 10 more free throws than Detroit in Game 1, and got blown out. They committed eight less turnovers in Game 2, and got crushed by 21 points. In Game 3, the Bulls dominated the boards -- outrebounding the Pistons by 17, with a plus-12 on the offensive glass, and still lost. So what did the Bulls do right to win Game 4 that the Pistons did better in Games 1, 2 and 3? Perhaps the most overlooked but most meaningful statistic of all: they shot the ball better, from the field and from the 3-point line. Good shooting, and in this instance I'm referring to good percentages, normally develops from a few factors: Getting easy buckets in transition, hitting the offensive glass and employing good shot selection. Additionally, feeling comfortable and confident is a must for each individual shooter. Chicago struggled shooting the ball in the first three games, partially due to the Pistons' solid defense. But it was also due to a lack of confidence and rhythm stemming from the beating it took in Game 1. We speculated as much in our Game 2 outlook. But being on the short side of a 3-0 series deficit helped relax an obviously tight team, and Chicago finally looked like the team many people expected to see in this series. The Bulls' ball movement was crisp, as were their cuts, and they didn't just make a lot of shots, they made clutch ones. While Chicago has built a small amount of momentum and confidence, the Pistons are still talking confidently, but not based on how they shot the ball in Chicago. Yes, they split the games there, which was Goal No. 1. But they didn't break 40 percent shooting from the field or 30 percent from 3 in either game. Too often they settled for perimeter jumpers, something they have been acknowledging to the media. Getting Chauncey Billups driving and posting, and hitting Richard Hamilton on curls or in the post, that is the Detroit way. The common thought is that the Pistons have the edge over Chicago because of Chris Webber and his low-post game. Would it surprise people to know that C-Webb has not scored in either of the last two games, and only scored five points in Game 1? Yes, he was pivotal in Game 2, but his overall 6.8 ppg in this series suggests Detroit will look to their two guards and Tayshaun Prince to get them back into the groove. Especially when you consider that Rasheed Wallace is 4-for-19 from 3 in the last two games. His 2-for-12 performance from 3 in Game 4 tells us all we need to know about his, and the team's, mind-set in that game. Expect a lot more paint attacks and aggressive moves inside in Game 5. The Bulls wants to bottle Game 4 and try to replicate their strong and timely shooting in Detroit. They will focus on surviving one quarter at a time. They'll expect a more aggressive Pistons team, so look for similar "physical attitudes" to be displayed by Ben Wallace and company. When the Pistons go zone, Chicago will hope to shoot them out of it and attack the offensive glass. I think the Bulls will orient their defense to slowing Billups and forcing someone else to beat them. They have nothing to lose in a sense -- no one expects them to win -- so we can expect the kitchen sink to be thrown at Detroit. Chicago is a dangerous team when playing with confidence and feeling loose. They have multiple players capable of putting up big offensive numbers. Last year, the Pistons kept talking after every loss, saying they were not nervous and had nothing to worry about. They are saying the same things now. But their respect for Chicago's talent before Game 1 was a big part of why they played so well. They'd be well-served to get back to that mind-set now. I see Chicago giving Detroit a very tense struggle in a game that could go either way down the stretch. Ultimately, I expect Detroit to make more shots late, and hang on for a very tough win. But it would not shock me to see the Bulls force a Game 6. PREDICTION: Detroit wins Game 5 ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. will provide detailed scouting reports for each NBA playoff series and each NBA playoff game. David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and the executive director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he works as a personal coach for Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat), Orien Greene (Indiana Pacers), Alexander Johnson (Memphis Grizzlies) and Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings). -- I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I have been waiting all my life --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.216.94.116