Tonight when the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs semifinal round moves into Chicago’s United Center for Game-Three in the best of seven series between top-seed Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls it will be no mystery the game is a must win for the Bulls. Win and Chicago is only one game down with at least two more shots at Detroit on home court; lose and the Bulls will find themselves down 3-games to none and on the brink of elimination. No team has ever rebounded to win a playoffs series after going down 0-3.
The Bulls, victims of two blowout losses to the Pistons in games one and two in Detroit, are not getting much love from oddsmakers in their Playoffs second round home debut against the Pistons. With the Bulls favored by a -2.0 chalk and a -170 money line price , the Pistons might be a good value at the betting window at +2.0 or at +125 ml. The public seems to be convinced the Bulls have cashed their chips by wagering heavily on the Pistons at 73 percent on the side and 93 percent on the money line. The OVER 184 ½ is the preferred bet on the total with 68 percent of the wagering public.
The pertinent question is, are the Bulls capable of beating the Pistons in this series? The Bulls were only defeated by 20 or more points twice during the regular season and here they are two games deep into the Detroit series and have lost by 26 and 21 points respectively. Will the Bulls attempt to stay in the fight?
The Bulls have demonstrated they can play with the Pistons going 3-1 SU winning both home games at the United Center and splitting the two game road series at the Palace in Auburn Hills.
So far the Bulls seem to be out of character in this series and they had better find themselves quickly or be ready to face the off-season. I think the Bulls will show up tonight.
