Washington at Chicago

This game will be about defense, rebounding, and home court -- and Chicago has all three. Chicago is tops in the NBA in points allowed and 10th in rebounding. You give Chicago and it's coaching staff extra time to prepare and they are even tougher. The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days rest. Not so for young Washington. The Wizards are 1-6 ATS playing on three or more days rest. Chicago is second in the NBA in field goal shooting defense, Washington ranks 18th. Think Tom Thibodeau will get outcoached at home in Game One? The guy is outstanding and demands a top-notch effort all the time. His counterpart, Randy Wittman, holds the worst winning percentage of all time in a minimum of 400 games, and this will be his first playoff series in eight years as a head coach. The Bulls are 17-8-1 ATS against the Eastern Conference and 14-4-1 ATS following a defeat. In addition, this is a low total and Washington will try and push the tempo. The OVER is 4-1 in the Wizards last five road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. Chicago prefers a slower tempo, but their offense is better at home, and they are on a 5-2 run OVER the total against the East. Plus, the OVER is 4-0 in the Bulls last four Conference Quarterfinals games.  Play the Chicago Bulls and OVER the total in Game One.