The Pistons are just a -4 point favorite when they host the Bulls in the January 11th NBA free betting pick. Make no mistake Detroit is very banged up and have lost 10 of their last 13 – and have been beaten all three games by Chicago so far this season. The Bulls are on the back-to-back though after a loss to Indiana on Friday – and Jim Boylen’s team has lost 6 in a row in their own rights.
Chicago Needs to Find Post Defense – ASAP
The Bulls rank 30th defensively vs. the PF position and 29th vs. the C spot. Detroit is without Blake Griffin (knee) but Andre Drummond should have a field day in this one. Chicago pushed their losing streak to six games after falling 116-105 to the Pistons on Friday night. Indiana C Myles Turner had 27 points and 14 rebounds to help lead the Pacers to a 70-36 scoring advantage in the paint.
Chicago’s strength is their back court, especially Zach LaVine who has gone for 32+ in 3 of the last 4 games. LaVine put down 43 points against Indiana’s #12 ranked defense on Friday, but he also logged 38 minutes and has the quick turnaround on 0 days rest vs. Detroit. PG Tomas Satoransky also logged 38 while Lauri Markkanen was on the court for 34 and has been fighting an ankle injury as of late.
Chicago can win this game with defense. The total is just 216 and the Pistons are not only missing Griffin’s offense, but also Luke Kennard, Markieff Morris, and Reggie Jackson. The Bulls are 9th in defensive efficiency and Detroit the #22 ranked scoring team in the league.
Big Night Upcoming for Derrick Rose?
Saturday’s game is the last chance for Derrick Rose to lead the Pistons to a win over Chicago this season. The Bulls have won the first three meetings this season, looking for the season sweep in the January 11th NBA free betting pick. Detroit has had a hard time scoring on the Chicago defense, putting up 106, 89, and 107 points in the three games.
Rose has a DNP, 18, and 23 points in the series vs. his former team thus far this season. Those aren’t bad scoring numbers considering the Bulls rank 2nd in the league defensively vs. the PG spot. That provides some balance considering Chicago is the worst vs. the PF and 29th defensively vs. centers. Andre Drummond had a 25 point / 24 rebound performance when the teams met up on November 1st but got in foul trouble on November 20th and had just 6 points. He did have 14 rebounds in that contest though.
Detroit will still have to find some secondary scoring besides Rose and Drummond if they want to win and cover the -4 point spread. Christian Wood will man the PF spot, but he has just 10 points total the last two games – both against Cleveland.
January 11th NBA Free Betting Pick
This line is right on the money – if Chicago wasn’t playing on leg two of the back-to-back. LaVine, the Bulls’ most potent offensive player, hasn’t been the healthiest guy in his career so burning him out on consecutive nights wouldn’t be the best idea for Boylen. Drummond basically has free reign in the paint in this one and Rose will want to get at least one victory vs. the Bulls this season.
Pick: Detroit Pistons -4
