Bulls Wanted the Pistons, Who Are Happy to Oblige : Eastern Conference: Detroit has eliminated Chicago from the playoffs for three years in a row.

CHICAGO — This is the collision course the Chicago Bulls wanted, even told people so, something akin to calling the bully out of his house for a fight.

It is the Bulls’ challenge, even though they won the Central Division by 11 games over Detroit and took the season series, three games to two. But they haven’t proven anything when it really mattered.

In the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals, Detroit easily eliminated Chicago in five games.

In the 1989 Eastern Conference finals, Michael Jordan predicted a victory, but Chicago’s season was over six games later and the Pistons were on their way to a championship-round sweep of the Lakers.

In the 1990 East finals, the Bulls rallied to make a series out of an 0-2 deficit and forced a Game 7 before the Pistons held the Bulls to 74 points and won.

Beginning today at Chicago Stadium, it’s round three, the Bulls and Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.

Time may be running out on these Pistons, though not necessarily for this season. Mark Aguirre is almost a cinch to be gone next season, Isiah Thomas has privately told people he wouldn’t be surprised to be traded, John Salley will be a free agent come July 1. They have this “One Last Time” motivation, along with the more factual notion of trying to become the first team to win three consecutive NBA titles since Boston won eight in a row.

The Bulls want the Pistons? They got ‘em.

“I’ve had a lot of thoughts about Chicago, some of the things I won’t bother to repeat,” said Thomas, Detroit’s point guard and captain. “All year long they’ve been saying they want to play us. Well, here we are.”

The Bulls, with the home-court advantage this time against the Pistons, have been waiting and resting since disposing of Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Pistons, on the other hand, weren’t out from under the last Boston rally until overtime Friday night. They flew here Saturday afternoon, readying to play for the third time in as many cities in five days.

Thomas may be back in the starting lineup. That would move Vinnie Johnson back to his normal role as a reserve.

Jordan comes in averaging 31.8 points during this postseason, more than anyone else. He averaged 31.6 in the five regular-season meetings with Detroit, but teammate Scottie Pippen, the Bulls’ No. 2 offensive weapon, got the Dennis Rodman treatment.

Pippen is contributing 22 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and shooting 54.8% in the playoffs, but against the Pistons in 1990-91, he was held to 15.8 points and 42.3%, including outings of two for 11 and five for 14.