by Ben Perks
The Chicago Bulls open their season against the Detroit Pistons at the Caesars Arena on Wednesday. Will the Bulls make a statement in their first game, or will the Pistons pull off an upset? Get insights and odds for this 2021–22 NBA season opener.
These rivals faced each other three times during the 2020-21 NBA regular season, and the Bulls won every game. Oddsmakers think it will be a similar story on Wednesday.
The Chicago Bulls have looked impressive in the preseason, with Ball and Lavine’s chemistry showing. These performances have led many to talk about the Chicago Bulls’ playoff chances this season. Online sportsbooks seem to believe the hype and have therefore made the Bulls -210 favorites to beat the Detroit Pistons in their opening game of the 2021-22 NBA season.
After trading Mason Plumlee, the Pistons signed Kelly Olynyk to replace him. Although he has played well alongside Jerami Grant, they will struggle to beat an on-fire Bulls team. However, Point Guard Killian Hayes could make an impact, as many believe this could be his comeback season. A game-winning performance against the Bulls would certainly put Hayes’ career back on track.
Yet, the Bulls have star player Nikola Vucevic and new additions. Therefore, Chicago’s veteran presence could prove too much for this young Pistons side.
A Younger Lineup for The Pistons?
The Detroit Pistons should be a better outfit this year. Well, it can’t be too tricky, as they only won 20 games last season, making them one of the worst basketball teams in the Eastern Conference. Maybe the addition of star rookie Cade Cunningham can help improve on this record, but don’t expect miracles. The Pistons’ rebuilding process is still in its incubation period. Notable additions during the offseason included the return of Cory Joseph and the acquisition of Hamidou Diallo.
Detroit head coach Dwane Casey will be bringing in other young players this season, such as Small Forward Saddiq Bey, Center Isaiah Stewart, and Point Guards Saben Lee and Killian Hayes. Although a playoff run is improbable, the Pistons will be one of the most exciting teams in the league simply because of its youthful squad – which could help them pull off some upsets.
Will the Bulls Reach the Playoffs?
Despite acquiring Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls didn’t make the playoffs last season. If they do the same this season, they’ll surely be disappointed. Along with keeping Vucevic and Zach LaVine, the Bulls have added two stars in DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball to help cement their playoff hopes. In fact, these signings changed their futures odds on reaching the NBA Playoffs.
Although many wonder how DeRozan and LaVine will work together, there’s no question that the Bulls now have untapped potential in offense. After a 2020-21 season in which they posted a 31-41 record – the 11th best in the Eastern Conference – they should target a low playoff seed in an Eastern Conference stacked with quality teams.
Recent Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-12 | NBA – Pre-Season | Detroit Pistons | 99-108 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2019-12-22 | NBA – Pre-Season | Detroit Pistons | 107-119 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2019-11-21 | NBA – Pre-Season | Chicago Bulls | 109-89 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2019-11-02 | NBA – Pre-Season | Chicago Bulls | 112-106 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2019-03-10 | NBA – Pre-Season | Detroit Pistons | 131-108 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2019-03-09 | NBA – Pre-Season | Chicago Bulls | 104-112 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2018-12-01 | NBA – Pre-Season | Detroit Pistons | 107-88 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2018-10-21 | NBA – Pre-Season | Chicago Bulls | 116-118 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2018-07-14 | NBA Las Vegas Summer League Play Offs | Chicago Bulls | 66-72 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2018-04-12 | NBA – Pre-Season | Chicago Bulls | 87-119 | Detroit Pistons |
View up-to-date odds for all upcoming NBA games.
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
