Pistons face early-season test vs. Bulls

Marcus Morris’ reaction when told the Pistons hadn’t started 2-0 since 2008-09?

“Damn,” he said Wednesday night after the Pistons’ hard-fought 92-87 victory over the Utah Jazz.

That pretty much sums up six years of futility in which marquee matchups at the Palace have been scarce.

But that changes, at least temporarily, tonight. The Pistons hope to play rude hosts when the 2-0 Chicago Bulls visit the Palace.

It’s a long season, and tonight’s outcome will be only a small line in the story this season.

But with the area clear of a Tigers hangover, the Red Wings in a 1-4-1 funk and the Lions being the Lions, tonight offers the Pistons a rare chance to seize the attention in the metropolitan area.

“We gotta strap up, man,” Morris said of facing the Bulls. “We know what they got. We gotta strap up and play.

“That’s going to be an early-season test. Chicago is a good team, so we can see how that goes.”

It’s a far cry from the days when Isiah Thomas’ Pistons and Michael Jordan’s Bulls battled for Eastern Conference supremacy in the Bad Boys era.

The Bulls have tormented their Central Division rivals in recent seasons. The Pistons have had seven straight losing seasons, and the Bulls have reached the playoffs for seven straight.

But there is one slight change with the Bulls.

Center Joakim Noah has yielded his longtime starting spot to Nikola Mirotic.

The second-year power forward has rewarded new coach Fred Hoiberg’s decision by going for 37 points and 18 rebounds in the first two games.

Point guard Derrick Rose, who suffered a broken orbital bone early in camp, has returned. Although he has played sparingly since his MVP season in 2010-11, he remains the center of attention.

“I look forward to going up against anybody, but definitely when you have somebody of that caliber, you have to be a little more on your Ps and Qs and look forward to the matchup,” Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson said.

The players are excited to see the good vibes from the fan base, but tonight is just another early-season test.

“They’re a good team — everybody knows that,” Jackson said. “They’ve been consistently good over the years, and we’re trying to build something special here, so it will be another good test. Hopefully we can learn how to manage ups and downs and just stay level-headed, stay even-keeled and come out ready to compete and try to protect home court again.”

And take what the Bulls have.

“It can definitely set the tone for our goal of making the playoffs,” Morris said. “We gotta take it one game at a time. I can tell the way the energy is that we’re not just going to lay down. We’re pushing each other. We’re getting better and better. We’re playing hard. I’m excited to see what the season holds for us.”

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.

Tonight: Bulls

Matchup: Chicago (2-0) at Detroit (2-0)

Tip-off: 7:30 tonight, The Palace of Auburn Hills

TV/radio: FSD, WMGC-FM (105.1).

Line: Bulls by 21/2