Game Preview: Celtics at Bulls

Tonight's Matchup
	vs.
58-15	Record	29-44
100.5	PPG	97.1
90.2	PPGA	99.9
47.6	FG%	43.1
41.9	Opp. FG%	44.9
41.6	Rebounds	43.6
22.4	Assists	21.8
14.2	Turnovers	13.9
8.5	Steals	7.6
4.6	Blocks	5.2
3-0	Season Series	0-3

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Celtics Documentary
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Celtics OnDemand Lineup

Point Guard
Rajon Rondo Points: 10.7 Rebounds: 4.1 Assists: 5.0 VIEW HOTZONES	Kirk Hinrich Points: 12.2 Rebounds: 3.4 Assists: 6.2 VIEW HOTZONES
Shooting Guard
Ray Allen Points: 17.9 Rebounds: 3.9 Assists: 3.1 VIEW HOTZONES	Larry Hughes Points: 12.6 Rebounds: 3.5 Assists: 2.7 VIEW HOTZONES
Small Forward
Paul Pierce Points: 20.0 Rebounds: 5.3 Assists: 4.7 VIEW HOTZONES	Luol Deng Points: 17.2 Rebounds: 6.7 Assists: 2.4 VIEW HOTZONES
Power Forward
Kevin Garnett Points: 18.9 Rebounds: 9.4 Assists: 3.5 VIEW HOTZONES	Tyrus Thomas Points: 6.0 Rebounds: 4.4 Assists: 1.1 VIEW HOTZONES
Center
Kendrick Perkins Points: 7.4 Rebounds: 6.2 Assists: 1.1 VIEW HOTZONES	Joakim Noah Points: 6.0 Rebounds: 5.5 Assists: 1.1 VIEW HOTZONES
Sixth Man
James Posey Points: 6.9 Rebounds: 4.2 Assists: 1.5 VIEW HOTZONES	Andres Nocioni Points: 13.5 Rebounds: 4.3 Assists: 1.2 VIEW HOTZONES

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
United Center, 8:30 PM
TV: Comcast Sports Net HD
RADIO: WEEI 850 AM

By Peter F. Stringer
Celtics.com

The Boston Celtics have surprised NBA observers by running out to the best record in the league, winning more games than they did in their last two seasons combined.

On the flipside, the Chicago Bulls have disappointed by fading from playoff contention when they were projected to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season.

The C's will attempt to sweep the season series tonight at the United Center. With just nine games remaining, the Celtics are still looking to secure homecourt advantage for the postseason, and with a six-game lead on the Detroit Pistons, they're poised to wrap up that position in the next few games.

If they can do it while continuing to play their starters short minutes, Celtics Coach Doc Rivers would be even happier. No starter played 25 minutes in Sunday's 26-point win over the Miami Heat on Sunday, as the C's jumped out to a 27-4 lead late in the first quarter and never looked back.

The Celtics held the Heat to an all-time NBA-low 17 field goals, and the tone was obviously set on the defensive end.

"I thought we did a pretty good job in the first half of [getting] six extremely hard minutes out of them," Rivers said of his starters. "Then I started subbing."

Then again, the Heat weren't exactly at the height of their powers, as Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion weren't with the team, and Miami rounded out its roster with D-Leaguers and 10-day contracts. But the Bulls aren't likely to go as quietly. They still believe they've got a shot at postseason play, and they trail the eighth place Atlanta Hawks by just four games in the loss column.

"You can have one of those [seasons] and then get in the playoffs and be dangerous," Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said of the Bulls. "The regular season hasn't gone the way they wanted it to, but if they can sneak into the playoffs, they're gonna try to be a factor."

Interim Coach Jim Boylan knows it's a long shot, but that won't stop him from seeking maximum effort from his team tonight.

"We're in a tough situation as far as working our way into the playoffs," Boylan told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We're going to keep fighting. That's what we asked our guys to do, right to the bitter end. Whether we are in it or out of it, we are going to play hard."

The Bulls are a little thin in the front court as Drew Gooden (abdominal strain) and Aaron Gray (back spasms) did not practice with the team on Monday, meaning Tyrus Thomas will likely make his second straight start for Chicago.

In their three games against the Bulls this season, the Celtics have held Chicago to just 34% shooting and a shade over 85 points per game.