The three teams that have come back from 3-0 playoff deficits — the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders and the 2004 Boston Red Sox — all had common traits. Here’s how the Bulls stacked up in those departments as they tried to conjure another miracle Sunday:
Mr. Clutch
Two candidates here, but even though Luol Deng had 25 points and 13 rebounds to his name, he had been scoring against the Pistons. Kirk Hinrich, however, rejoined the series to at least give the Bulls a death rattle. He scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half when the Bulls desperately needed energy.
The folk hero
The ‘Fro emerged in more ways than one. Ben Wallace let loose his locks, then bounded all over the United Center floor with abandon. He snared 17 rebounds — nearly double his average for the series — and added 11 points, including three free throws when the game was on the line.
Bench marks
Bulls coach Scott Skiles tossed in some zone defense — hey, if you can’t beat ’em — which at least gave the Pistons something to think about, if nothing else. As importantly, he gave Tyrus Thomas some critical fourth-quarter minutes, and the rookie repaid Skiles with energy and eight points in the period.
The quirks
Game 4 came up a bit short in the eerie occurrence department. But there were the three Pistons that fouled out — Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Antonio McDyess — and a good Rasheed Wallace tantrum in the third quarter that earned the combustible forward a technical foul.