NBA Preview: The disparity in team wins that separate the Celtics and Bulls is wider than the talent level on the court.
Chicago Bulls (41-41) at Boston Celtics (53-39), Sunday, 6:30 p.m. EST
Line: Celtics -6. Total 204.5.
This is not your typical #1 vs #8 playoff series.
The Bulls outnumber Boston with marquee players 3-1. Chicago has Jimmy Butler (superstar), Dwayne Wade (3-time NBA champion) and Rajon Rondo (NBA champion). Meanwhile, the Celtics have Isaiah Thomas, a budding superstar who had a breakout season.
The Celtics have good players and play sound, fundamental basketball as a team. Brad Stevens does a great job coaching this squad.
In any playoff series, talent can trump good teamwork. The Bulls have enough weapons to take down the Celtics in a 7-game series. Chicago’s potential starting five of Butler, Wade, Rondo, Nikola Mirotec and Robin Lopez all averaged double-digits in points this season.
These two teams split the season series with the home team winning every game and all four games went under the Vegas total. Thomas averaged 24.8 points per game (PPG), 6 assists per game (APG) and 3 rebounds per game (RPG) against the Bulls this season.
Butler averaged 15.3 PPG, 3.9 APG and 6.8 RPG, Wade averaged 15 PPG, 3 APG and 3.3 RPG, while Rondo averaged 3 PPG, 7 APG and 6.3 RPG against the Celtics. These numbers are not very impressive, but the Bulls had a lot of ups and downs during their tumultuous season.
There is another wildcard that may or may not have an impact on this series. There is breaking news that Isaiah Thomas’s sister, Chyna Thomas, was killed Saturday in a one-car accident. Isaiah stated he plans to play Game 1 on Sunday. However, he left the door open to change his mind depending on how he feels when he wakes up Sunday morning. Thomas is listed as questionable for Game 1.
Even if Thomas does not miss any games in this series, nobody can know how the impact his sister’s death will have on his state of mind from game to game.
Another reason Chicago has a slugger’s chance to win this series is because the Celtics do not have some of the analytical numbers that are indicative of a #1 seed. Boston ranks #7 in PPG and #8 in offensive rating. The Celtics rank #15 in points allowed per game and #13 in defensive rating.
Boston is 31-10 at home this year, but just 17-24 ATS (Against The Spread). Boston’s home ATS record ranks #28 in the league. Chicago is 16-25 straight up on the road and 21-20 ATS.
Wade said yesterday in an interview that his teammates were confident coming into this series. They have a reason to be. This series should be a lot closer than people anticipate. The Vegas spread says the Boston is 6-point chalk in Game 1, but I feel this game is a tossup.
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