Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Eastern Conference First Round Preview
By Varun Tekur
The Boston Celtics are out to silence critics who believe they are the worst No. 1 seed in NBA history. The veteran Chicago Bulls stand in their way.
Ever since the fateful day of June 27, 2013 when Danny Ainge decided to hit the reset button by trading Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry for a haul of draft picks, the Boston Celtics have been continually climbing up the standings to regain their perch atop the Eastern Conference.
The team has finally achieved this goal, obtaining their first Eastern Conference No.1 seed since the 2007-2008 season, but a large number of fans still doubt the Celtics’ ability to compete with the elite tier of NBA teams in the playoffs.
Boston’s first round series against the Chicago Bulls will be the team’s first step on their mission to prove their doubters wrong. Below are several key storylines, matchups, and x-factors to watch out for.
Storylines
Can the Celtics prove that they truly belong in the NBA’s top tier?
Although the Celtics earned the best record in the East this season, a lack of star power and some sloppy losses (such as a brutal April loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers) have led many to believe that the team’s high seed is misleading.
While 8 over 1 upsets are extremely rare in the NBA, there is talk around the league about how Bulls win over the Celtics would not be too uprising.
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And while they have only had 2 playoff appearances since the Pierce and Garnett trade, the team failed to win their first round playoff series in both of those years. A commanding series victory in 4 or 5 games can help the team gain a significant amount of respect from across the league, and any type of win will lift the burden of winning their first playoff series under Brad Stevens off of their shoulders.
Will anyone step up to carry the scoring load if the Bulls focus their energy on guarding Isaiah Thomas?
IT4 has been flat out dominant this year, as his 28.9 PPG rank 3rd in the league and his late game heroics have captivated Celtics fans night after night. However, he has seemingly been Boston’s only dominant scoring option with players such as Avery Bradley and Al Horford carrying more of a supporting scoring role. When the Bulls have an entire series to plan against Isaiah in the fourth quarter, will the Celtics’ offense sputter?
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The Celtics’ offense has struggled several times this season when teams have increased late game pressure against Thomas, most notably during the Celtics 114-106 loss to the Toronto Raptors on January10th.
It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, steps up when the Bulls start to trap IT. Can Horford dominate Chicago’s bigs in the post? Could Jaylen Brown break out and take advantage of his athleticism to finish at the rim? These are all questions that remain to be answered, but a lack of scoring when pressure is put on IT may show the team how aggressively they need to pursue a scorer this summer, whether that be via free agency, trade, or the draft.
Rondo returns to the Garden to Face His Old Team
This may very well be the most interesting of all of the storylines, as Rondo has had quite the volatile career ever since being traded from the Boston Celtics in 2014.
Rondo has never regained the All Star form that he had with Boston, but he is still a dangerous passer, averaging 6.7 assists per game this year and being only a year removed from recording a league-leading 11.7 assists per game.
Rondo may be motivated to spoil his former employer’s dream season, and given the point guard’s stellar court vision, a great series from him will set up his teammates for many open shots.
While a hot scoring stretch from Jimmy Butler or Dwayne Wade can be controlled by the Celtics perimeter defenders, a locked-in Rondo will make the entire Bulls offense significantly more fluid, something that is much harder to control.
Matchups
Isaiah Thomas vs. Jimmy Butler
While these two players will certainly not be regularly guarding each other, fans can expect to see a back-and-forth scoring battle between two of the NBA’s elite scorers.
Both players have the potential to take over games at any moment, and their teams depend on them to be the leaders of their offenses. Simply put, Thomas and Butler will make or break the series for their respective teams.
Al Horford vs. Robin Lopez
Al Horford has been criticized all year long by Boston media for being too soft in the paint, and a matchup against two physical bigs in the playoffs will be a true test of his toughness. While Lopez (10.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG) is by no means an All-Star talent, he is a gritty player who gets the job done on the glass and can fight his way to the rim.
Pair that with the fact that the intensity kicks up a notch during the playoffs, and it is clear that Horford will have to be extremely physical in order for the Boston Celtics to secure wins. This could be his chance to show the league why he earned a 4-year, $113 million max contract, or it could be another opportunity for the to criticize the big man.
X-Factors
Bulls: Nikola Mirotic
While Butler and Dwayne Wade will probably generate most of the Bulls’ offense, Mirotic can add a huge bonus to the team when he is playing at a high level.
The sweet-shooting big man has been inconsistent this season, but he has the talent to stretch the floor with a 34.2% 3 Point Percentage and can also rebound effectively (5.5 RPG). If his 3 point shot starts to fall, driving lanes will open up for Wade and Butler and Chicago can feed the Ball to Lopez and Gibson in the paint, elevating the Bulls’ offense to a whole new level.
Celtics: Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart truly embodies the spirit of this year’s Boston Celtics team as a tough player who gives his full effort every night. He fights for the ball, plays hard-nosed defense, and constantly comes up with clutch plays for the team.
And despite being known as a defensive wizard, Smart has also elevated his offensive game this year with 10.6 PPG and 4.6 APG. If he keeps up his usual defensive intensity and knack for making big plays late in games, the Bulls will have a hard time getting past the Celtics’ Great Wall of Perimeter Defenders that also includes Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder.
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All eyes will be watching when the series kicks off on Sunday, April 16th, at 6:30 PM on TNT.