TITLE: Central Division Roundup: Pistons Stumble, Bulls’ Bench Ignites, Williams Sidelined, Cavaliers Seek Rebounding Fix
SLUG: central-division-roundup-pistons-bulls-williams-cavaliers-rebounding
CONTENT:
The Detroit Pistons absorbed just their seventh defeat of the season on Friday, dropping a 131-129 contest to the Utah Jazz. Utah erupted for 44 third-quarter points, prompting head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to criticize his club’s defensive focus.
“Discipline. Execution. Commitment to who we are. Forty-four points in a quarter is unacceptable,” Bickerstaff said, according to The Athletic. “Most nights the guys give us what we ask, but tonight we were loose from the start.”
Guard Cade Cunningham echoed the frustration. “This isn’t the level we should be playing at. We know we’re better than this,” he told reporters. “We’ve got to go back to the drawing board, figure out what’s taking away from our defense, and come back better.”
Bulls’ Reserves Fuel Fifth Straight Victory
The Chicago Bulls extended their winning streak to five with a 109-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, powered by 59 points from the bench unit. Veteran big man Zach Collins credited the group’s energy on the glass and overall effort.
“Even if we lost a couple, we were trending in the right direction,” Collins said to the Chicago Sun-Times. “Everybody’s having a good run. We’re crashing the glass more, playing harder, and when you’re winning, the vibes are high.”
Forward Patrick Williams, listed as questionable with an illness, dressed but did not play. The 22-year-old has averaged 7.8 minutes over Chicago’s last four games and is in the second season of a five-year, $90 million extension.
Cavaliers Target Mental Edge on the Boards
After surrendering a 17-point lead in a Christmas Day loss to the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to examine late-game rebounding lapses. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said the issue is more mental than physical.
“I think it starts with mentality,” Atkinson told The Athletic. “Everyone says physicality, but it’s your mental focus. Are you seeing your man? Are you going to crash? Are you going to get a hit first?”
Cleveland’s inability to secure critical rebounds, including one grabbed by Karl-Anthony Towns in the closing minutes against New York, has been a recurring theme as the club looks to shore up its late-game execution.
Source: Hoops Rumors
