A Pistons - Bulls playoff matchup is what the media and fans have been waiting for since "Big" Ben Wallace inked a $60 million deal with Chicago. Now facing his former team, the Bulls will rely on Wallace to continue to anchor its defense. Against the Pistons this season, Wallace averaged 13.7 rebounds per game and three blocks in three games.
These teams have a lot in common. Both swept their first round opponent. Both place emphasis on defense. Both are well-coached (Chicago with Scott Skiles and the Pistons with Flip Saunders). Both advantage their sizable, defensive point guards (Kirk Hinrich for the Bulls and Chauncey Billups for the Pistons). Both have length and shot blocking. Both have a shooting guard who likes to run off screens and hit big shots (Ben Gordon for the Bulls and Richard "Rip" Hamilton for the Pistons).
Chicago will need Luol Deng to play as well as he did in the first round series against the Miami Heat, where he averaged 26.3 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. It might be more difficult this time around, as he will be guarded closely by Tayshaun Prince, who is renown for his length and defensive prowess.
However, the Bulls have other weapons. Not only are they second in the league in lowest field goal percentage allowed (43.7%), but they are among the league leaders in blocks and steals. In addition, they outrebound opponents by 2.6, which is also near the top of the league.
Chicago does lack a big man who can score on the block, which might make things very difficult for them. Not since Michael Jordan's Bulls won the NBA championship in 1998 has a team won it all without having a back-to-the-basket player. Though, that team at least had Bison Dele (formerly Brian Williams) and Luc Longley. The Pistons don't have many post players, but can still rely on Rasheed Wallace from time to time and Antonio McDyess on the low block.
Detroit's main weapon will be playoff experience. Until this year, the Bulls had not won a playoff series since their overhaul in the late 90's. Conversely, the Pistons have won a championship and have made several deep playoff runs in recent years. Moreover, they have several clutch shooters, like Billups, Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace.
In order to win this series, the Pistons will need to play at their own pace and not let the young Bulls run them into the ground. Rasheed Wallace should also play more in the post than he might be comfortable with. He's a very talented low post player offensively (as well as defensively), though he tends to drift to the perimeter too often. Relying too much on jump shots could allow the Bulls to maintain a strong hold in this series.
This may end up being one of the most intriguing matchups in all the playoffs, because of the defensive focus of both teams, Ben Wallace returning to his former team and the intense rivalry that goes back to the days of the "Bad Boys" and Michael Jordan.
