Schuster: Don't Expect Same Early Series Struggles In Game 3
By David Schuster--
The Bulls have barely gotten by the Pacers in each of the first two games in this series, and the last time they played in Indianapolis the Pacers prevailed. That all aside as I look for the Bulls to have an easier time on the road in Game 3 then they have so far. Why? Because I think the Bulls know what they need to clean up and they will.
It all starts on the defensive end of the court where Tom Thibodeau has been upset with how his team has failed to cover the three-point line and not done a very good job defending the high pick and roll. The Pacers have gotten too many easy lay ups off that play and also a host of open jump shots. It definitely will aid the Bulls if Darren Collison doesn't play since he's the most adept at the pick and roll, but their two backups run the play well too, so it's imperative that the Bulls shut it down.
On the other end of the court the Bulls must do a better job of going against Indiana's half court trap. The Pacers changed their tactics from the first to the second game and put a bigger guard on Derrick Rose. Then when he came across half court they double teamed him with a wing man with size. The double team caused a lot of turnovers by Rose and this has to stop in order for the Bulls to run their offense more efficiently. The guess here is that the Pacers will go with this same tactic at the start of Game 3 and Rose will look to pass out of the double and get his teammates some easier shots. The Bulls will also look to clamp further down on their defensive end of the court and cause turnovers of their own, which would lead to easier baskets on the other end.
The Bulls did scrape by in the first two games, but the bottom line is they won without playing nearly their best ball. The guess here is that they will step up their performance on both ends of the court and play a more complete game. And just in case it's necessary they still have the best player on either team on their side and can always call on him to take over. I'm predicting the Bulls win by nine 97-88.
