[Thanks to wjb1492 for today's game preview. -Matt]

I'm guessing everyone remembers the last match-up between the Bulls and Pistons, which resulted in the first W of the season for Chicago.  Will tonight be another victory for the Bulls?  Well, I'm not an "expert analyst" or statistically driven projection device, just a fan.  So, with all the homerism I possess, I say: hell yeah!

For those around here looking for something more solid than unbridled optimism in a game preview, let's start with Tyrus, who has had some of his greatest games against the Pistons.  Hopefully, Skiles remembers this and gives the kid more than 6 or 7 minutes of burn.  Kirk also had his best assist game (14) of the year by far against the Pistons last time around - in fact, that game alone accounts for a whopping 17% of Kirk's total assists to date.  If Skiles does decide against benching him tonight, let's hope for another performance like that.  The Bulls overall have been playing a bit better of late, winning 3 of the last 4 after starting 2 and 10, and moving up to 22nd in Hollinger's Power Rankings after spending several days (weeks?) in dead last.

People who don't have a blindspot a mile wide where the Bulls are concerned might point out in rebuttal that Detroit is currently 3rd in the Hollinger Power Rankings, with a 5 game winning streak.  (Personally, I wonder why such people would be spending time on a Bulls blog.)  

There is also, of course, the never-ending story of Ben Wallace's defection from the Pistons, mixed with his on-going friendship with his former teammates.  Quote of the day on Big Ben, courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, comes from Chauncey Billups:

"You know Ben," Billups said.

"He's a sore loser. He's not happy about it at all. But I don't blame him."

I hope I live to see the day that Big Ben's relationship with his former team ceases to be a topic of conversation, but since the game is on everyone's favorite worldwide leader (6 pm start) I'm sure it will receive plenty of coverage.

Meanwhile, for me at least, this is one of those teams that a win against just seems to matter a little bit more - Detroit, New York, any team the Bulls play on TNT when Sir Charles is commenting....  So, Let's Go Bulls!  (But said in a much cooler way than the Bobcats' PA guy.)

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