The Chicago Bulls and visiting Detroit Pistons both find themselves at a crossroads heading into Monday’s game at the United Center.
The Bulls (13-13) have lost three consecutive games and six of the past eight. The team’s recent lethargy has prompted critics to ask whether players have tuned out second-year coach Fred Hoiberg.
Bulls forward Taj Gibson said he and his teammates — not Hoiberg — deserved blame for the recent skid.
“We’re definitely buying into what Fred is telling us, but at the same time Fred isn’t on the court,” Gibson told the Chicago Sun-Times. “People want to forget that sometimes. We have to do a better job. He’s coaching his tail off, and it’s hard when you’re trying everything possible. You’ve got to look at the roster. We’ve got a lot of young guys, man, and not that much experience.”
Hard questions also face the Pistons (14-15) after back-to-back blowout losses by a combined 29 points. The locker room was closed for more than 45 minutes Saturday night because of a players-only meeting.
“I did a lot of the talking,” Pistons forward Marcus Morris told the Detroit Free Press. “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 game marks the second of four meetings between the teams. On Dec. 6 in Auburn Hills, Mich., the Pistons pulled away for a 102-91 win over the Bulls thanks to a team-high 22 points from forward Tobias Harris.
Chicago has had better success at home, where it is 7-5 this season. The Bulls have won six of eight home games when they score at least 100 points.
Detroit is 6-10 on the road, but coach Stan Van Gundy’s team has fared better during the past few weeks. The Pistons have won five of their past seven road games.
Forward Jimmy Butler leads the Bulls with an average of 24.8 points per game. Guard Dwyane Wade has added 19.5 points per game in his first season in Chicago.
For the Pistons, Harris is the top scorer at 16.1 points per game. Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope averaging 14.8 points and guard Reggie Jackson is not far behind with 14.3 points per game since he returned from a knee injury Dec. 4.
Detroit might be without forward/center Jon Leuer, who missed Saturday’s game against Indiana because of back spasms. Leuer has averaged 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 28 games this season.
Gibson exited Chicago’s game against Milwaukee on Friday night because of a right hip contusion. However, Gibson returned to practice Sunday and could be available against Detroit.
If Gibson plays, look for him to compete hard for his embattled coach.
“It’s tough to be in his position, but like I said, we have to be the ones that go out and do the job for him,” Gibson told the Chicago Sun-Times. “He can stress all the things we need to do in meetings, but we’ve got to do a better job. Just overcome this wave. Every team goes through it. We’ve got to get it together.”
