Game 57: Bulls at Mavs Open Thread

First off, I know its early with kidd, as great and as fun as its been fun for us too watch the past few games, we have a real stretch of tough games coming up here.  We will get a good dose of where this team is at over this stretch, as these teams (SA, LA, UT, SAC, and Hou) will exploit weaknesses on this run and gun team...  granted the defense hasnt been all THAT bad though either.

The the most important things for us too look at over this stretch is us being able to shut down the 2/3 guards (McGrady, Manu, Kobe), and for Damp to stay in the game and not pick up dumb fouls, thus preventing us from playing "nellie ball".  Especially on the defensive end.  I think if we really focus in now on the defense, the offense will roll by itself.

I still think we play down (or up) to the level of competition, but we HAVE to work on not allowing teams to get back into games when we build up a lead in the first half... all the starters played HEAVY min tonight, when it really should've been a little bit more of a blow out.  

But credit Chi for fighting back into the game, I felt like we couldnt stop Gordon all game, and Gooden had his way with us in the fourth.  But both of those guys having big games, shouldnt make the mavs feel too good going into this next stretch of games.  Guys who step up/dont show up for us in these two positions are where we will win/lose games over this next stretch, and certainly in the playoffs IMO.