Are Bulls In Gift-Giving Mood? Pistons Hope So As They Look For First Win Over Bulls Since ‘93

An NBA era ago, a young Michael Jordan kept trying to climb to the top of the basketball world, only to be slammed back to earth by the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons.

Now, Grant Hill is knocking, and Jordan’s Chicago Bulls want to keep slamming the door in the young Detroit star’s face.

“We’re a measuring stick for the Pistons, as they were for us back in ‘88 and ‘89,” said Jordan, whose Bulls play host to Detroit in a Christmas matchup between the teams with the NBA’s best records.

“Each time we saw them, we tried to see how much we had progressed. Now they’re trying to get over the hump, and we want to keep them right where they are.”

Second place is where the Pistons are. Detroit (20-5) trails the defending-champion Bulls (24-3) by three games in the Central Division. They are the only two NBA teams with winning percentages of at least .800.

“They’re playing well and are capable of having a great game, so we’re going to be up for it,” said Scottie Pippen, another survivor of the battles against Bad Boys Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn. “It’s a compliment to be chosen to play on Christmas. It’s special, and we’re going to treat it that way.”

The Pistons-Bulls game is the second half of a nationally televised doubleheader that also includes the Los Angeles Lakers at the Phoenix Suns.

“My parents are at home and I don’t have any family in Detroit, so I’d rather spend Christmas with Michael and Scottie,” said Hill, whose personable manner and wonderful talent have led many to dub him the next Jordan.

The Bulls lost to the Pistons in the 1988, 1989 and 1990 playoffs. Detroit won NBA titles in ‘89 and ‘90. In 1991, the Bulls finally got past the Pistons and began their string of four championships in six years.

The Pistons are looking for a breakthrough game, having lost 17 consecutive times to the Bulls since last winning on March 14, 1993. That was so long ago that Rodman was on the Pistons.

After Chicago won 98-80 at Detroit on Nov. 8, Pistons coach Doug Collins said: “They are one of the greatest teams of all time, maybe the greatest. No team in the NBA can play with them right now.”

Collins, who coached the Bulls from 1986-89, hopes his team has closed the gap in the seven weeks since.

Chicago guard Steve Kerr said the Bulls respect the Pistons.

“We’ve handled them pretty easily lately, but we take them very seriously,” Kerr said. “They play very hard and have great shooters. Grant Hill is incredible. They’ve been playing great defense, too.”

It will be Jordan’s first Christmas game since 1992.

MEMO: On TV NBA doubleheader (NBC) Lakers at Suns, 3 p.m. Pistons at Bulls, 5:30 p.m.