2017 NBA Playoffs

Bulls.com

The clock is ticking down … It’s do or die time … There’s no tomorrow … You gotta leave it all out on the floor … Our backs are up against a wall …

Welcome to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics taking place deep in the heartland of sports clichés!

While Boston clearly has momentum on its side after posting three straight double-digit victories and can advance to the next round with another win tonight, the cold-hearted truth is … It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!

Ah, I bet you thought I’d run out of corniness? Well, it is what it is — I got a million of ‘em!

For the Bulls, the road to redemption rolls down West Madison Street and ends at the doorstep of the United Center this evening. Once again, they will be forced to take the floor without veteran floor general, Rajon Rondo, who is still attempting to recover from a broken right thumb suffered late in Game 2 last week in Boston. When Rondo was behind the wheel and driving the Bulls’ bus during the opening two games of this series, Chicago’s offense was running smooth as silk, averaging 108.5 points, 25 assists and knocking down shots at a 46.9 percent clip. However, since he’s been sidelined Chicago’s attack has derailed, as the Bulls are notching just 93 points, 19 assists and shooting a rather pedestrian 43.6 percent from the field.

Although Rondo will walk through “that door” tonight, it’s safe to say he won’t be wearing red and white shorts when he does, so the Bulls are obviously going to need to do something different to survive another day. While Isaiah Canaan will start at the point for second straight game, look for the Bulls to go with an unconventional look for most of the night by employing a three-headed attack in which Canaan, Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade are the team’s primary ball-handlers.

“Obviously the dynamic of our team has changed with Rajon out,” Bulls Head Coach Fred Hoiberg said yesterday afternoon during a conference call with reporters. “We played quite a few stretches last night, really the majority of the game, without a true point guard on the floor. But that’s just the reality of the situation we’re in right now. And it’s probably going to be that way for the rest of the series.”

Butler has been the best all-around player on the team all season long, and Wade is a future Hall of Famer who literally stuffed the stat sheet last time out in Game 5 with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. In order for the Bulls to come out on top tonight, you have to believe both Butler and Wade are going to need to have big games at both ends of the floor. They’ve done it plenty of times before, so there’s no reason not to expect them to do so again this evening.

Canaan also is a key player for the Bulls tonight and someone to definitely keep an eye on. Although he led the team with 29 didn’t play by coach’s decisions during the regular season, the 6’0” guard has gladly and ably stepped up over the last two games, averaging 13 points and shooting 10-for-21 (47.6%) from the field while playing 35 minutes a night. More importantly, Canaan’s defensive physicality has bothered Boston’s leading man, Isaiah Thomas, a great deal. Last time out, Canaan stuck like glue to Thomas all over the floor and held him to 1-of-10 shooting from distance and 6-of-17 (35.3%) overall. Thomas did end the night with 24 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter, the vast majority of which came from drives into the paint and trips to the free throw line.

“I take my defense any day of the week,” Canaan said afterwards. “Their bigs did a good job in the second half of adjusting their screens and hitting me, making it tough for me to get back in front of (Thomas). I had success in the first half of staying in front and making every shot tough. Every shot was tough in the second half as well. He just was able to get to the free-throw line a couple of times.”

Heading into tonight, Thomas is averaging what looks to be on the surface an impressive 25.2 points in the series, but when you take a close look at the numbers you’ll see he’s shooting a rather ugly 43.8 percent from the field overall (39-for-89) and an even uglier 21.1 percent from behind the arc (8-for-38). Where Thomas is killing it is at the charity stripe, as he’s gone 40-for-49 (81.6%) from the line. The only other Celtic to have shot more than 10 free throws center Al Horford who has gone 10-for-11 from the stripe.

Clearly an important defensive key for Chicago is to get the ball out of Thomas’ hands, forcing one of his teammates to lead the way. Defensively, the Bulls have to come together to make sure someone is constantly in front of Thomas, especially when he looks to drive into the paint and attack the rim. Too often he has been able to turn the corner after one of Boston’s wings or bigs sets a screen. Thomas is simply too quick to just have a defender run alongside. Rather, a defender must stay directly in front and deny his attempts to blow through the paint. Physically, Isaiah Canaan is quick and strong enough to do so, and so far he has be able to body-up on Thomas and make his life somewhat uncomfortable. But to truly slow him down, it’s going to have to be a team effort, and the Bulls cannot be shy about dishing out hard fouls down low while at the same time making sure Thomas or anyone else is able to get up a shot while being fouled to post a cheap, backbreaking three-point play.

Offensively, the Bulls are at their best when they aggressively crash the boards and look to run the ball up the floor at every opportunity and attack the basket. In order for them to get into any kind of groove, it is essential the Bulls storm out of the gates focused, engaged and ready to battle from the moment the ball is tossed up.

In order to succeed, the Bulls have to freely share the ball and keep it hopping from player-to-player and from side-to-side. Everyone on the floor has to be involved in the action and be willing to take the action to the rim without fear of getting hit or being knocked down.

Chicago’s offense also can’t morph into a one-on-four contest with Butler or Wade attempting to take on all comers. There’s has to be constant movement — player and ball — which in turn will force Boston to chase and expend a great deal of energy. Chicago’s shooters also have to hit shots — especially the wide open ones. That’s where focus and fearlessness comes in to play.

A primary strength to Boston’s attack is their three-point shooting. The Cs averaged 33.4 treys (third most in the NBA) and connected on 12 per game (tied with Golden State for third most, as well) during the regular season. They have continued to launch an incredible amount of scuds in this series, shooting 185 over five games (37.0 per), making 60 from downtown, keeping up with their regular season mark of 12 makes per game. As mentioned earlier, Thomas hasn’t been such a dead-eye from distance (21.1%), but Horford (6-of-12, 50%), Avery Bradley (13-of-35, 37.1%), Kelly Olynyk (6-of-15, 40%), Gerald Green (6-of-15, 40%) and Terry Rozier (5-of-11, 45.5%) have.    

Defensively, the Bulls have to do a far better job of paying attention to the arc and running shooters off the curve. They also have to relentlessly crash the defensive boards as hard as they have on the offensive end. Rebounding must become a collaborative effort. It just can’t be starting center Robin Lopez cleaning the glass.

In Games 1 and 2, Chicago posted advantages of plus-17 in rebounding and plus-10 in second-chance scoring, however over Games 3, 4 and 5, all Boston victories, the Celtics closed the gap considerably, as they come into tonight a minus-10 on the boards but they’re now a plus-27 in second-chance scoring.

“We’ve gotten a little lazy at times on our defensive rebounding,” Butler admits. “They’re getting a lot of second-chance points and kick-out 3s.

The best thing the Bulls can do right now is to stay poised, focused and optimistic. Although they are facing elimination if they come up short tonight, they can’t allow doubt and/or despair to creep into their psyche.

The fact is the Bulls qualified for the playoffs as an eighth seed on the final day of the season whereas Boston ran away with its division and posted the best overall record in the conference. On paper the Celtics are supposed to win this series. But after capturing the first two games on the road, and doing so convincingly, it’s a tough pill to swallow seeing your best point guard on the bench in street clothes and then going out and losing three straight.

As a group the Bulls need to pull themselves together and take everything one at a time. Forget about having to win two in a row. The most important thing right now is to win tonight. In order to do that they need to commit to one another and believe in their heart of hearts that every possession, every rebound, every pass, every fastbreak and every defensive stop is the most important thing in the world.

Not to go all cliché or anything, but just as I quoted the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis a couple of weeks ago — just win, baby!

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Keys to the Game: Bulls vs. Celtics - Round 1, Game 6 (04.28.17)

Alright, let’s agree that the first four games don’t count. We can just forget about ‘em and start fresh … make this a best 2-out-of-3, what do you say?

Like it or not, that’s what’s happening.

Since the Boston Celtics won Games 3 and 4 in Chicago, they’ve recaptured home-court advantage and the Bulls and the Beantowners find themselves in a best-2-out-of-3 series with the survivor … ahem … the winner moving on to face either Washington or Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Apparently all the talk about who should be the MVP this season, be it OKC’s Russell Westbrook or Houston’s James Harden, is simply noise as it became clear to everyone in Chicago over the weekend that Rajon Rondo is truly the most valuable player on the planet.

After dominating the No. 1 seeded Celtics on their home floor during the first two games of the series where Rondo masterfully established a quick pace and sliced and diced Boston’s defense in doling 20 assists while turning the ball over just four times, Chicago seemingly has crashed head-first into a brick wall after the veteran floor general was put into a hard cast after suffering a fractured right thumb sometime during Game 2. Primary backups Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams have had a tough time getting their mojo to flow, in that once they were asked to step in for Rondo, combined the duo has shot an ugly 6-for-28 (21.4%) from the field and turned the ball over nine times while dishing just five dimes. Thus, it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that Chicago head coach Fred Hoiberg has called upon little used Isaiah Canaan to try to chip in and help in any way possible.

Canaan, who didn’t play by coach’s decision a team-high 29 times and was placed on the inactive list for another nine games this season, ended up logging 34 minutes and recorded 13 points in Game 4. His incessant hounding of Boston’s leading man, Isaiah Thomas, and his ability to hit shots from behind the arc has earned Canaan the starting nod tonight in Game 5.

“I really thought he (Canaan) did a good job picking up the ball and pressuring the pickup point a full 94 feet,” says Hoiberg. “I thought his initial ball pressure was good. Isaiah (Canaan) we feel is a good fit right now for what he brings, especially on the defensive end and he’s also a guy who can knock down shots.”

It wasn’t a secret that Boston’s heaviest hitter coming into the series was and still is, Isaiah Thomas. During the regular season, fiery 5’9” guard averaged a whopping 28.9 points a night and proved time and again to be clutch down the stretch, as he was league’s second-best fourth quarter scorer, notching 9.8 points per game during the last 12 minutes, just a tick below Westbrook’s ridiculous 10.0 mark.

Lest anyone need reminding, Thomas’ capacity to take over at any moment became abundantly clear during Game 4 after the Bulls rallied from being down 20 points to take a 65-63 lead by the middle of the third quarter. After a Boston timeout, Thomas immediately sparked a game-changing 12-0 run, scoring 10 points on his own and assisting on the other bucket to turn the tide of the game, and quite possibly wrestle control of the series.

Heading into tonight’s contest, Thomas is averaging 25.5 points this series, with big man Al Horford a distance second at 14.8 per game. More meaningfully, Thomas has shot 38 free throws (making 29) while no other man donning green-and-white has attempted more than six.

Clearly an important key for Chicago will be to get the ball out of Thomas’ hands as much as possible, forcing someone else to step up and lead the way. Defensively, the Bulls need to keep someone in front of Thomas at all times, especially when the two-time All-Star attempts to attack the rim or pull-up for a trey.

Too often during this series Thomas has been able to turn a corner after one of Boston’s wings or bigs sets a screen for him, allowing him to explode and blaze a trail to the cup. Thomas is simply too quick to have a defender run alongside. Rather, that defender must stay directly in front and deny his attempts to blow through the paint. That’s where Canaan comes into play this evening. Physically, Isaiah Canaan is quick and strong. Hopefully he’s able to body-up on Thomas and make life somewhat uncomfortable for him — at least for a few hours — because if Thomas is allowed to run free that will unquestionably fire up the home crowd and inspire his teammates all the more.

Boston has trouble scoring when Thomas isn’t on the floor or the ball isn’t in his hands. Thus defensively, Chicago’s top priority has to be to force someone other than Thomas to beat them. Chances are if the Bulls can effectively stifle Thomas’ ability to get to the rim and/or free himself from a defender, Boston will be in trouble.

Offensively, Chicago has played its best when they immediately establish a quick pace. Thus in order to get into any kind of groove tonight it’s essential the Bulls hit the hardwood focused, engaged and ready to run from the moment the team bus arrives at TD Garden.

It all boils down to this — in order to succeed, the ball has to be freely shared and quickly move from player-to-player and from side-to-side. When it comes to the Bulls, the evidence is clear in that Chicago averaged 108.8 points on 46.5% shooting from the field and 37.2% from distance, to go along with 24.5 assists and 49.3 rebounds in the 41 games they won during the regular season, and just 97 points on 42.2% shooting from the field and 31.0% from distance, with 20.5 assists and 43.1 rebounds in the 41 games they lost.

When it comes to the NBA playoffs, expectations can change on a dime. Right now both the Bulls and Celtics have their backs up against the wall, with the loser tonight pushed to the edge of a steep cliff staring into the abyss of elimination. The best thing Chicago can do is to stay poised and focused.

The Bulls can’t allow Boston to get off to an explosive start and run out to a big lead. On the contrary, Chicago is the team that needs to establish a fast and free flowing pace from the jump while also continuing to assert its dominance in the paint and on backboards.

The Bulls were able to bully their way to an impressive 2-0 series lead by aggressively attacking the basket and outhustling and outmuscling Boston in every way imaginable. However, after dropping two straight back home at the United Center over the weekend, they have allowed the Celtics to reclaim home court advantage. Collectively the Bulls need to pull themselves together and take everything one at a time. Every possession, every rebound, every pass, every fastbreak and every defensive stop needs to matter. Simply put, doubt cannot be allowed to enter the minds of the Bulls. It’s time for Chicago to get after it, stay after it and never look back.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Celtics - Round 1, Game 5 (04.26.17)

Sam Smith

There are plenty of things the Bulls could do differently Sunday when they play likely what is the pivotal and most significant game of their season against the Boston Celtics in this first round playoff series.

A loss would send the Bulls back to Boston not only 2-2, but having surrendered one of the great playoff advantages in NBA history, and then going against a confident and motivated Celtics team with two of three back home, where they were won 17 of their last 20 before the playoffs.

"There's obviously a lot of things that we'll look to do tomorrow," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said at practice Saturday. "The biggest thing starts with effort. That first quarter, we got down 20 right away and obviously we have to do a lot to prevent that from happening. We'll look at everything. The biggest thing we were doing yesterday was taking the ball out of the net, and that just kills any opportunity you have for pace. Too much ball holding as was evident by our assist numbers, 14 for the game. And we were single digits for most of it. So we've got to get the ball moving better. Everyone's got to trust their teammates. That first game without (injured Rajon) Rondo, we had some things that didn't go as well as they had in the first two games. So you make some adjustments, watch the film like we did, and hopefully come out and play better."

--- They could go to their strength, which also isn't generally their preference, which is throwing the ball inside to Robin Lopez. He's not Shaq, but not only do the Bulls have the physical rebounding and size advantage, but it seems the Celtics by going small with basically no center and four perimeter players have basically ceded the rebounding to the Bulls. They've said, in effect, they'd get their defense from the perimeter, and they did, Jimmy Butler with a historically poor playoff game with 14 points, zero assists and zero free throws. Avery Bradley appeared able to read Butler's underwear labels. The championship Bulls of the 1990s started every game throwing inside to Bill Cartwright and later Luc Longley. Not much after the first few possessions, but the idea was to get the defense reacting and thus opening outside space. The Bulls stunningly opened the game walking into contested jump shots, and then it was 33-15 Boston after one quarter. Plus, without Rondo's driving penetration, passing into the post would serve as penetration.

---- They could change the starting lineup. Jerian Grant, getting his first career playoff start, looked nervous and shaky. Michael Carter-Williams backing him up was a bit better defensively, but poorer offensively. Grant conceded Saturday he didn't play well and would more model himself after Rondo in Game 4. Hoiberg said no lineup changing decisions have been made yet, but he seemed to be leaning toward the same unit with perhaps a quick hook. Have Butler or Dwyane Wade handle the ball and add another wing shooter like Paul Zipser or Denzel Valentine? Hoiberg said the Bulls did try those looks on occasion during the game. But those combinations end up in the Bulls walking up the ball and frequent isolations. The Bulls averaged about five passes per possession in Games 1 and 2 with Rondo and about two passes per possession in Game 3.

---- Play Joffrey Lauvergne more for Cristiano Felicio. Felicio did well with 11 rebounds in 22 minutes, five offensive. But he is no offense threat. And as much as the Bulls after the game talked about defensive deficiencies, the offense was awfully offensive.  Lauvergne worked with the starters often in practice leading up to the playoffs, but then Hoiberg went with Felicio. And to great advantage. Lauvergne could be quicker to match with Al Horford, who led Boston in scoring in Game 3. Lopez and Bobby Portis both played fewer than eight minutes in the second half. That certainly will change given Portis' major contribution in Game 1.

---- Reintroduce yourself to Nikola Mirotic. He got just seven shots, which obviously had to do with Rondo being out. Hardly anyone looked for him. Mirotic as a result even turned into an ocasional playmaker with three assists, which equaled the team high. No starter had an assist in the entire first quarter in a combined more than 45 minutes played. Even Hubie Brown on the national broadcast moaned, "What's with all the jump shots."

There's all the usual cliché stuff of push the ball, stop taking it out of the net, swing the ball, close out on defense, help, rotate, guys step up. All good stuff, of course. But this is what this game comes down to: Your best player.

Sure, it's a team game, and no one wins alone, but your best guy has to be the leader, has to give everyone else confidence in his play, his attitude, his demands, his insistence that he is not going to let you lose. Rondo actually filled that role in Boston even without much scoring threat. He was feisty and certain, attacking, trash talking, defiant. He did what he could from the bench Friday with a leg spasm as Jae Crowder danced off the court right in front of the sitting Bulls in extending the early lead to 18 points.

The Bulls need the guys in the game, especially one guy, Butler.

As great as Butler has been the last few years, this really is his first challenge, his first big moment as the leader of the team. The Bulls didn't make the playoffs last season when he emerged as the team's main option. The season before it still was Derrick Rose with that responsibility. When that big shot was needed in the second round near upset of the Cavs in 2015, it was Rose. Butler chafed; he was ready. He wanted it.

Now it's time. The Bulls need this one badly, and Butler is coming off a letdown performance. Did the Bulls follow him Friday to a casual start? That seemed a team decision. But when you have accomplished what Butler has, All-Star starter, all-defense, fourth quarter go-to scorer, Wade saying he is here to support Butler, then your teammates look to you.

Anyone can have a bad game, and it's not like Butler pulled a Kobe from some years back and decided not to shoot. Butler shot up 21 of them, mostly off line. It happens. But now your teammates look to you for guidance, for inspiration, perhaps for a save. They're all pros, so they're all special. Some are more special than others.

"You ain't gonna play great every night," Butler said at practice Saturday. "But I don't feel I changed the game defensively, either. I don't think I did too much of anything. It's all right. We play the way we're supposed to, I play the way I'm supposed to along with everybody else. And then it's back to, ‘The Bulls have a chance.' Go out and do that. Control that."

Butler understands, but he also asked for this. He's earned it with his play we've seen so many times, but you have to earn it again in the playoffs when it matters even more.

Butler seemed defensive about his lack of free throws, saying, "If I've got open shots, I've got to take them. You wouldn't say anything if I was...."

"Yeah, if I was making my jump shots," Butler finished. "It's not the fact I didn't get to the line. I still did all right. I'll continue to take what the game gives me, take jumpers if I'm open."

It's not about what the game gives you, what the game tells you what shots to take. The great ones emerge and take their teams with them and tell the game what they are going to do. The Celtics defended much harder than the Bulls did, but Butler let Bradley pressure and push him around. Bradley's a good defender; so are Marcus Smart and Crowder. But none is an all-NBA player like Jimmy probably will be; none is an All-Star starter. You cannot let those players take away your game.

The game is telling you to shoot jump shots because that's what they want you to do. Tell the game the heck with that! You don't take what the game gives you. You tell the game what you are taking from it!

Without Rondo, Butler and Wade tend to play with one another. They are close, and they are the two primary players remaining, and their specialties are scoring; no offense to Butler's defense.

In Game 3, they combined to take 39 shots, 21 for Butler and 18 for Wade. No one else on the team attempted more than seven shots. Every starter for Boston attempted at least eight with four in double figures. Both Butler and Wade shot 33 percent. It's much easier to defend when the defense knows where the ball is going. And staying. It's also much more difficult to produce when you're not sure you may be getting another shot. Butler and Wade understand; they're not selfish. But they play a certain style. Rondo could overlap it with his one-man fast break.

It's a lot to ask of Grant in now his second ever NBA playoff start, to push the ball and demand Butler and Wade catch up.

"If I'm running, the guys are going to run with me," Grant said at practice. "They're not going to stand behind. So if I can get the rebound, get the outlet pass and make guys run the way Rondo did, that's something I can do."

Maybe Paul Zipser can make some shots, Portis; maybe a Valentine sighting. That all would help, and even Wade after Game 2 declared himself a supporting actor in this drama. He was clear as well; it's Jimmy's show. Butler averaged 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two wins. He was terrific. But he also had Rondo taking on the booing of the crowd, confronting the Celtics, setting everyone up.

It's continued with the tripping incident that really wasn't. Heck, the league should give Rondo a bonus for his hysterical deadpan explanation. Plus, hey, get out of the opponent bench! Though Butler Saturday said Rondo still can be an inspiration even when not playing.

"I like confrontation, stuff like that," Butler said of the discussion of whether Rondo meant to trip Crowder. "Makes me smile. Gets me going and everybody else. I'm excited for what's next. I woke up smiling this morning. I don't like to lose. But I'm fortunate enough to wake up and still be able to play this game. That's just (Ron)Do for you. He's been through this before, countless times. He's won. He knows what he's doing. I just think overall we have to take his edge, especially mentally, older guys, younger guys, everybody. We have to think the game like he thinks it, study it the way that he studies it. Take note and take after him because he does everything the right way."

And, no offense, not just be happy to have your health, you know waking up the luckiest man in the world. We all know. But this game may be the series.

Sure, it's about winning, but winning doesn't determine who you are. It's competing; it's the desire and obligation. Plenty of guys who lost big games are winners. Don't ever mistake that. But this is Butler's time. This is when your team needs you most at the time when it's most difficult. Maybe the other guys don't do enough and it doesn't happen. It's OK.

"I'm not going to say we're going to lose," said Butler. "I don't think that's the right answer to any question. I don't think anybody plays this game to lose, especially this time of year. I feel we have a really good team. I'm taking our chances over theirs. I don't care how many games. We just have to get to four. We don't care who counts us out. We really don't care who wants us to win. We're worried about the people in here because we're the ones who have to do it every day."

People always ask what leadership is about. It's about games like this, stepping forward to accept and endure the responsibility, raise the temperature on yourself so it can be lowered on everyone else. Get everyone involved so they feel a part of the quest, but make sure everyone sees that you're out front.

That's what games like this are about. We can't wait.

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What can the Bulls change up in Game 4?

CHICAGO -- The Boston Celtics arrived in Chicago just hoping to play their way back into their Eastern Conference playoff series with the Bulls.

Now, with a win on Sunday at the United Center, the Celtics can return home in a dead heat with the Bulls.

Boston drew even in the best-of-seven series with a 104-87 victory on Friday night. In a game in which the Celtics saw a 20-point lead dwindle to one early in the third quarter, Boston pounded the Bulls from the perimeter with 17 3-point field goals and used fast-paced ball movement to keep Chicago from ever getting close.

But after earning their first victory in the series, the Celtics understand they will have to keep pushing in order to get their second.

"It's certainly better to be down 2-1 than 3-0," Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters on Saturday. "We're going to have to play with great purpose, be intentional about the way we approach (Sunday's game). We know it's going to be really hard and each game is its own entity."

The Celtics relied on a balanced scoring attack to build their lead. While guard Isaiah Thomas -- who scored 16 points, well off his season average of 28.9 points -- didn't score as much as his teammates have become accustomed to, he contributed nine assists.

Still dealing with the death of his sister, who was killed in a car accident last weekend, Thomas hit back-to-back 3-pointers to widen the gap after Chicago had drawn to within a point.

His teammates fed off his effort and then did enough to get within a game of the Bulls.

"I felt like as a team, we had a much better rhythm (Friday)," Celtics center Al Horford said.

The Bulls, meanwhile, struggled with pace in their first game playing without injured point guard Rajon Rondo. Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams both struggled in Rondo's absence and leading scorer Jimmy Butler was 7-of-21 from the field. Chicago turned the ball over 18 times and had only 14 assists (compared to Boston's 34) and the offensive woes -- coupled with the Bulls' defensive issues -- all added up to the 17-point loss.

Now, like the Celtics did on Friday, Chicago will enter Sunday's game looking to bounce back.

"We're in a good position," Bulls guard Dwyane Wade said. "One thing Rondo did before he went out is help us win two games on the road. Now we have two of the next three (games) on our home court and we have to come in and care of business at home."

With Rondo out indefinitely, the Bulls won't have a lot of time to make the adjustments they will need to get to within a game of closing out the Celtics. Wade said after Friday's loss that Chicago can't afford to use Rondo's absence as an excuse.

But given what's at stake before the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5, the Bulls believe they can do what's needed to make the Celtics' comeback efforts even tougher. Now, they will need to carry out their plan on their home floor.

"I think a big theme of the playoffs should be possession by possession, quarter by quarter, game by game," Bulls center Robin Lopez said. "You just try to keep a level head, even with failure and success. We're going to come back (Saturday) and look at the film to make improvements."

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Celtics - Round 1, Game 4 (04.23.17)

So far the Chicago Bulls haven’t looked like your typical No. 8 seed, especially one that took 82 games to qualify for the playoffs. The truth of the matter is they’ve simply outplayed the top-seeded Boston Celtics in just about every phase throughout the first two games of this series.

After a quick start by Boston in Game 2, one in which the Celtics grabbed the first four rebounds of the night and scored the game’s first seven points, Chicago responded with a 20-4 run, seizing control by dominating the offensive glass, as all five starters snagged at least one offensive rebound before six minutes had ticked off the clock.

When it was all said and done, Jimmy Butler had recorded 22 points, eight assists and eight rebounds while veteran lead guard Rajon Rondo chipped in 11 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, finishing just one carom shy of a triple-double, to lead Chicago to a 111-97 pounding of the top seeded home team.

Rondo suffered a fractured thumb in Tuesday’s game and will be out indefinitely. Jerian Grant will start in his place Friday night.

While some basketball pundits might be surprised by just how well the Bulls have played of late, Butler isn’t.

“I’m not surprised at all because everybody’s so locked in right now,” said Butler after Tuesday’s contest. “If we continue to go out there and play hard, guard, make everything tough (for Boston), we’ll be fine.”

In order for the Bulls to continue to steamroll over the Beantown Bombers Chicago will need to do what they’ve done over and over thus far, and that means priority No. 1 is to quickly wrestle control of the paint and backboards at both ends of the floor. It also would be wise for the Bulls to pay plenty of attention to Gang Green’s snipers hovering around the three-point arc.

A major strength of Boston’s game is their three-point shooting, as the Cs averaged 33.4 long ball attempts (third most in the NBA), connecting on 12 per game (tied with Golden State for third most, as well) during the regular season. So far they haven’t strayed from that strategy in this series as they’ve combined to go 24-of-71 (33.8%) from downtown in Games 1 and 2.

Besides the obvious of staying continuously close by and running their assigned man off the curve, another effective tactic to limit Boston’s numerous scud missile attacks is for the Bulls to aggressively crash the defensive boards just as hard as they have on the offensive end, battling tooth-and-nail to lasso as many 50/50 balls (long rebounds and tipped passes) as possible. Oftentimes it’s the 50/50 ball that winds up in the hands of a dead-eye shooter hovering over the arc.

As strong as the Bulls have played on the offensive glass (they’ve grabbed 32 offensive rebounds and posted 37 second-chance points over the first two games), Boston hasn’t been all that shabby in that area either, as they’ve been able to gather a respectable 23 offensive boards and notch 27 second-chance points over the first two games.

Another important key for Chicago is to continue zeroing in defensively on Boston’s star playmaker Isaiah Thomas.

Although the 5’9” two-time All-Star is averaging a very impressive 26.5 points in the series, he hasn’t been able to find much help from his running mates as he’s only been able to dish eight assists while turning the ball over 11 times. In fact, after Thomas the next highest scorers for Boston are Avery Bradley and Al Horford, both of whom come in averaging just 13.0 points, followed by Jae Crowder (12.5) and Marcus Smart (11.0). As a team, the Celtics are averaging 99.5 points, 26.5 assists and 37 rebounds, while the Bulls are putting up 108.5 points, 25 assists and 48.5 rebounds overall.

Thomas is without a doubt Boston’s best player and the only one on the roster who can change the outcome of a game all by himself. Thus defensively, Chicago has to keep a defender in front of him at all times, especially when Thomas looks to attack the rim. So far Thomas seems to be the only one in green and white willing to enter the paint, as he’s attempted 25 free throws over the first two games, and no other Celtic has shot more than four.

Offensively this season and so far this series, Chicago has demonstrated that it is at its best when they attack and establish a fast pace. Thus in order to get into any kind of groove this evening it’s essential they hit the hardwood focused, engaged and ready to run from the opening tip.

In order for any team to succeed, the ball has to move quickly and be shared. When it comes to Chicago, the evidence is clear in that the Bulls during the year averaged 108.8 points on 46.5% shooting from the field and 37.2% from distance, to go along with 24.5 assists and 49.3 rebounds in the 41 games they won, and 97 points on 42.2% shooting from the field and 31.0% from distance, to go along with 20.5 assists and 43.1 rebounds over the 41 games they lost.    

For the Bulls to continue rolling along and possibly grab a commanding 3-0 series lead in front of their hometown fans, Chicago needs to continue to crash the boards at both ends of the floor and keep playing unselfishly by keeping the ball on the move and generously sharing it with everyone that takes the floor in a Bulls uniform. In order to accomplish these goals, the Bulls will continue to count heavily on their playoff savvy veterans (Butler, Rondo, Wade and Lopez) while also looking to get help off the bench from important role players such as Bobby Portis, Cristiano Felicio, and Paul Zipser, as well as starting power forward Nikola Mirotic.

Both Portis and Zipser have delivered big in this series, with Portis putting up 19 points and nine rebounds in Game 1, and Zipser notching 16 points on six-of-eight shooting, including a pair of threes in Game 2. Mirotic is another vital actor for the Bulls, as when his outside shot is falling, defenses are forced to abandon the paint opening lanes up for Butler, Wade and Rondo to navigate to the rim.

Chances are the Bulls will be in for a dogfight tonight, as Boston is a talented, deep and very proud team. It wasn’t a fluke that they won 53 games and posted the best record in the Eastern Conference. In fact the Celtics’ 21-18 road record tied Toronto’s for the best in the East. No other conference team had a winning mark away from home — not even the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers (20-21) — so loud, raucous filled to the rafters stadiums located far away from Bunker Hill don’t seem to intimidate these Beantown leprechauns.

Expectations can change on a dime during the NBA playoffs. Who would have thought this year’s Chicago Bulls, a team that needed to win on the very last day of the season just to reach .500 and make the playoffs would, on the road, jump out to a 2-0 series lead over a No. 1 seed?

In any event, since the middle of March both the Bulls (9-4) and Celtics (11-4) have played some pretty good basketball. But what Chicago has that Boston doesn’t is loads of playoff experience and savvy. Although Boston’s current core has made the playoffs for three straight seasons, they haven’t been able to survive the first round, whereas Chicago’s power trio of Butler, Wade and Rondo combined have played in 295 playoff games and won four NBA Championships between them. It also doesn’t hurt that for the most part this season, when the lights shined the brightest, Chicago consistently played at a high level.

The Celtics have their backs up against the wall at the moment and it’s very unlikely they will go down easily, if at all. The best thing the Bulls can do is to just stay consistent. Keep the pace fast and free while remaining dominate in the paint and on backboards at both ends of the floor. Simply put, the Bulls need to take everything one at a time. Every possession, every rebound, every pass, every fastbreak and every defensive stop matters. Just get after it, stay after it and don’t look back, and everything should be alright.

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Keys to the Game: Bulls at Celtics - Round 1, Game 3 (04.21.17)

It's a familiar NBA formula, the impact of the Big Three, that has the Bulls leading the Boston Celtics 2-0 in this first round playoff series. From Bird-McHale-Parish to Garnett-Pierce-Allen to LeBron-Wade-Bosh. Now comes Portis-Mirotic-Zipser?

"Zipser, Mirotic, Portis," bemoaned Celtics coach Brad Stevens after Tuesday's Bulls 111-97 victory. "Those guys have had huge impacts on the first two games of this series. I expect it from (Dwyane) Wade, right? I think we all do.  Last year, I think he hit less than 10 threes during the regular season and then more than that in the first round of the playoffs.  Like, this is who he is. And it's who (Rajon) Rondo's been throughout his career. The level that he's playing at is terrific. And then Butler's, Butler. But those other guys are really impacting the series in a big way."

The big man in this series has been the big man, Bulls center Robin Lopez. The Bulls seven footer has repeatedly frustrated the Celtics with offensive rebounds. He is averaging a series high 6.5 per game and overall 16 points and 9.5 rebounds on 14 of 21 shooting with a near unerring face up jump shot. Dwyane Wade broke out with 22 points in Game 2 on nine of 16 shooting and three of four three pointers. Wade is now four of six on threes in the two games. Wade made a total three three pointers in his last 11 regular season games back to March 1.

Jimmy Butler has been the man, big second halves in both wins, the go-to scorer. He's averaging 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two games.

But the surprise of this first round as the Bulls host Game 3 in the United Center Friday is the Bulls' X-factor, actually Triple X, the relay race combination of Portis, Mirotic and Zipser. Often maligned, ignored and dismissed this season, they have taken turns as playoff virtuosos.

In Game 1, it was Portis, dazzling Boston with 19 points and nine rebounds, making eight of 10 shots often in crucial sequences that held off the Celtics. Remember, that was a game coming down to Butler needing to clinch it with free throws with 3.3 seconds left.

"I can't say I didn't see it coming," said Rondo, the mentor to the reserves and young players. "Bobby's a very confident player. He works extremely hard. What he's doing right now, he deserves it. He put in the work, staying humble. At the beginning of the year, he wasn't playing as much, but he stayed with it and things are happening for him. I told the guys from day one: People might not get the minutes that you want or play when you want, but stay ready when your name is called and lock in. It's going to take every one to win the title.

"Star power is great, but at the end of the night you need all 15 guys," said Rondo in emphasizing the message he's preached all season as the team's evangelist for the overlooked. "We wouldn't have won (Game 1) without RoLo, without Bobby Portis, without Jerian Grant. So star power to me is kind of overrated. Obviously Jimmy did what he did best, get buckets in the second half. But the little key stops we got from other guys were big for our team."

And so it was in Game 2 with Portis getting just nine minutes and taking one shot, a three he made. Clever strategy as well. Have the opposition prepare for the unexpected, and then surprise them again. No coach could have managed these two games better than Hoiberg.

Mirotic after the tough start in Game 1 that got him benched for the second half came back with a big 10-point first quarter. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in Game 2 and a crucial third quarter three with Boston making a run.

"Niko has done a good job playing off Rajon," said Hoiberg. "Niko coming out hitting a couple of shots, keeping us in it, was huge…;to be able to get a lead after that first quarter, a lot of that had to do with Niko's hot start and Rajon finding him for easy baskets. It's so important for your role players to play good basketball. So far we've had different guys step up in different games and hopefully we'll continue to get contributions."

And then there was Zipser, the lightly regarded but uber confident German import who after a quiet six points in Game 1 came up big in Game 2 with 16 points on six of eight shooting, adding a pair of threes. The last was the effective clincher from the left corner.

"I had the target to get to the NBA, of course," said Zipser. "I really felt I could do it. I wanted to (as a goal) score in the playoffs and that's what I did a couple of days ago; now we are up to the next step."

That's Friday with that back to the wall feeling from the Celtics. It's not over even if the Celtics lose, but no NBA team ever has won a series after trailing 0-3. There were three, the last Portland in 2003, to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games. It has happened in baseball and hockey, but never in basketball. But if the Celtics win, then it's just 2-1 and looking like seven games.

That the Celtics may be heading toward an historic upset as a No. 1 seed is both amazing and apropos given that former Celtic Rondo is having such a big influence in the series. Both in his play, averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the two games, and with his standing with the young players on the bench.

"I'm very proud," Rondo said about the victories. "I told the guys it would take all 15. Even our scout team did a hell of a job going over the plays, preparing us for what they were going to do. And then our second group came out and played big."

It was typical Rondo this season encouraging and applauding the work of the least appreciated.

Of course, Rondo, once an All-Star and champion with the 2008 Celtics, could also relate given he spent perhaps half this season playing with those guys off the bench. It's a true testament to Rondo as a professional to have sunk through ACL surgery, being traded and dropped from the Mavericks in the playoffs, sent to basketball solitary in Sacramento and then coming to the Bulls and being benched, five straight DNPs in early January. Then came the infamous Wade/Butler excoriation of the reserves, Rondo's Instagram response to question Wade's leadership style in relation to "my vets," what seemed adieu for Rondo.

But he went to work, to play, really, because Rondo is a basketball junkie, embracing the second unit, advising and encouraging them. And if there's an obvious reason for their ability to display poise under pressure, it has to be, at least in part, the work with Rondo.

This was the guy Bulls fans loved to hate, especially in the 2009 playoffs when he assaulted Brad Miller in a crucial, series turning sequence. And, by the way, had five triple doubles in the series. In Boston, they call this time Playoff Rondo for his 12 triple doubles with the Celtics in his playoff career with the Celtics. Booed often in the two games, Rondo has been a fierce competitor and even tormentor. Avery Bradley said after Tuesday's game that Rondo was yelling to teammates how the Celtics were quitting.

Not that Rondo was ever going to surrender given his love of the game; it seemed the Bulls were going to give up on him. But in enduring a season long point guard audition for his position, Rondo stayed positive and emerged as Hoiberg's most reliable at the position. He played almost 41 minutes Tuesday with faith, ferocity and fire. Though it was an expanded rotation much condemned during the season, it also cannot be a coincidence that young players are more ready now for the playoffs.

And perhaps Rondo remaining a Bull. What seemed unlikely, if not a you've-got-to-be-kidding question a few months ago, hardly is without possibilities now. Rondo told reporters before Game 2 he'd like to return to the Bulls next season and was optimistic about the talent on the team, talent, incidentally, that Rondo has helped nurture.

"I just got to put the credit to my age," Rondo said about surviving and thriving this season. "I'm 31 now. My role is different. When I had older guys around me, I kind of leaned on them for advice and went through tough times. So for me to be the example, just continue to work and show up on time. If those guys want to listen, I try to give as much advice as possible. I remember when I was a younger cat, I always thought the veteran guys talked too much. I don't want always be the guy who is talking."

That's what was held against Rondo then as a combative youngster, that he challenged players like Kevin Garnett, coach Doc Rivers, guys who liked to talk. It engendered a negative reputation given the media popularity of Rivers and Garnett. Though as you often discover, people aren't often what you think or what you think you know or see. Rondo is a dedicated worker, an ideal teammate and a natural leader, if not a polished public speaker.

"What you guys write is part of the story, but it's not who I am daily," reminds Rondo, generally crusty in public and more cuddly in private. "I guess this year in particular, what I went through, it's part of the growing process. I try to grow each year, each day. Wake up and try and be a better version of me. Yeah, the older you are, the more mature you're acting, the wiser you become."

Rondo doesn't shrink from the challenge. He was clearly upset about being benched and given DNPs, suggesting a lack of communication with management, perhaps a quick departure somewhere else.

"It's up there," Rondo said about this being among his greatest career crises. "My first year we lost 18 straight. My rookie year you doubted if you even belonged in the NBA. The team was so bad, and I wasn't even playing a lot, so that was a pretty tough year. People are going to form their opinions regardless of what I say or how I act. It's how life is. But like I said, the people that are close to me have been very supportive. I'm doing what I love. I went through a tough time playing basketball, but I have a great job, doing what I love, and still smiling to this day while I do it."

"This (Bulls) team was put together in a couple months with I think 10 new guys," Rondo noted. "It's hard to gel that quickly. At the same time, I think organizations have to give guys a little bit of time to grow and learn each other. Everyone is not going to be San Antonio: Always keep your guys together as long as possible so they can develop chemistry and make deep runs in the playoffs and go through things together and grow. If that's the case here, that'd be great. If not, it's up to those guys. I like where I'm at. I think we have a really good team. We made a big trade halfway through the season. All the things this year with 45 different lineups, we still made it to the playoffs. Right now, just try to stay consistent as possible and develop some chemistry."

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The new big three?

The milestones for this Bulls run were many. Mid-March in Boston after a blowout loss when Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic got back in the regular, starting rotation. Closing hard with seven wins in the last nine games to make the playoffs on the last day, Jimmy Butler and Rondo with extraordinary weeks with Dwyane Wade out injured. And then that practice.

“That first day in practice to prepare for this series, they (reserves) kicked our butt,” Wade was saying after the Bulls’ stunning and complete 111-97 victory over the Boston Celtics Tuesday. “They really brought it. They were out there about an hour before us, preparing, getting ready. And now you see it. You see guys are ready. They kicked out butts and we (with Rondo and Butler) looked at each other and were like, ‘We’re going to be good.’”

This good? The second ever eighth seed to win the first two games of an opening round playoff series in NBA history, the Bulls dominating the Celtics for a second straight game? In Boston?

No one is looking too far ahead because they’ve seen this Bulls team surrender the biggest leads and lose to the weakest opponents. Well, maybe not this Bulls team.

“I'm not surprised because everybody's so locked in right now,” said Butler, who with Wade topped the scoring with 22 points each. “Everybody's putting in extra work right now, watching film, working on their game, and that's where your confidence always comes from. We've got some great field generals out there in these two guys (Rondo and Wade) to help out and these younger guys and to make sure they're playing hard at both ends of the floor.”

It’s been a can’t-quite-believe-what-you-are-seeing few days in Boston for the Bulls, thwarting everything the Celtics have thrown at them from a big start from scoring star Isaiah Thomas in Game 1 to second half starting lineup changes in Game 2 to challenging the Bulls rebounding advantage with small lineups to force mistakes.

The Bulls throughout have remained poised, powerful and ahead.

After the vital Game 1 with 19 points from Bobby Portis, the Bulls Tuesday got a big start from Nikola Mirotic with 10 first quarter points after Boston bolted out to a 9-3 lead. The home crowd was expectant, energized; time for No. 1 to recreate order. But in this continuing series of unexpected developments, Mirotic took over with a drive for a two handed dunk, a relentless followup after a Robin Lopez miss and then a pair of threes after missing all five he attempted Sunday.

Horford had just seven points in 32 minutes as his inferior play has been one of the determining factors with Mirotic frustrating him throughout the first two games. Indeed.

Lopez had another vital game, 18 points and eight rebounds, five offensive that finally forced Celtics coach Brad Stevens to go to Tyler Zeller over Amir Johnson to start the second half on Lopez. But Lopez continued to take the heart out of the Celtics and, interestingly, the crowd as there were audible sighs as he continued to beat the Celtics for offensive rebounds. This even as the Celtics coming into the game said the focus would be rebounding and controlling Lopez.

The Bulls outrebounded Boston 43-38 and hold a 22-rebound advantage in the two games in Boston.

“We talked a lot about keeping our poise,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, who continued to press all the right buttons in maximizing production off the bench and utilizing Rondo. “We knew they’d come out and play tough, physical basketball and you have to go out there and withstand runs. Playing through those tough times and handling adversity well. We’ve done a pretty solid job of that; they make a run, one of our guys would step up and make a play and that’s what it’s all about.”

Often, surprisingly, it was Zipser, the second round pick constantly in and out of the rotation who had 16 points off the bench with clutch shot after clutch shot, making six of eight and a pair of threes without hesitation. Zipser had a big step in jumper early in the fourth quarter when Boston closed to 91-82 and ran him off the three-point line. And then with the Celtics making one, last, desperate run after a Wade three gave the Bulls a 105-86 lead with 5:18 left, it was Zipser with a corner three on a Butler pass after Boston scored six straight points.

That sent much of the home crowd shuffling to the exits and those left booing as the clock ticked the end of the game.

“I was just focused on the things I wanted to do,” said Zipser. “Everybody is just locked in; we talk about it all the time. Everyone just wants the best shot for the team. Our guys do a great job. I felt we had that same type of mentality with the defense, too.

“We knew it was not like a typical one and eight series,” Zipser added. “We knew we had our chances. Before, we showed against the good teams. Every shot the last five minutes, the three corner and the midrange on the pass from Rondo; didn’t think about it. When you are wide open you have to shoot it. (And) Rondo, just out of his mind right now. I love playing with him. He’s made for the playoffs.”

Yes, the man who named the Three Alphas, and then who challenged them, who withdrew from them, was benched, was out of the rotation, seemingly out of the city, off the team. Yes, that Rondo. He had 11 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds and five steals and defended Thomas most of the game. He had the team’s highest plus/minus rating at plus-24 and was the guy who Hoiberg said has been the unifier for this often splintered Bulls team. Plus, he played almost 41 minutes, second to Butler’s 43. Suddenly, the Bulls can barely survive without him.

Try that one on with your preconceptions and misconceptions.

“I don’t see anything different from Rondo than when he comes in on a day off and plays three on three,” said Hoiberg. “He approaches everything with such a competitiveness and that rubs off on our players. We were scheduled to have a day off between two of our late season games and Rondo’s in there organizing a five on five almost like a pickup game. It’s who he is; he loves to play, loves to be out there. He’s the ultimate competitor. We know we will continue to get that effort out of him. When we inserted him back into the starting lineup  he was the key…to our recent success. We know he’s going to go out and fight every night. He’s going to get his teammates involved. He’s so good for the chemistry of our team.”

So forget everything you think you knew about this Bulls team. OK, it’s just two games, and only halfway to a series victory. Though both on the road hardly matches anyone’s expectations.

But this has been a special pair of games against the emotional backdrop of the tragic auto accident death of Thomas’ sister. The Celtics say he will now return to Washington state to be with his family and then likely return for the next game. There was no word on a funeral or if other Celtics players would attend. But no one on Boston was using it as an excuse after Thomas had 33 points in the opener and a team high 20 points in Game 2.

The Bulls have taken Horford and the front line out of the game, quieted Avery Bradley and forced Boston to go deep into their bench Tuesday using Terry Rozier, Zeller and extra time for Kelly Olynyk. But it was the Bulls with the answers on offense, Wade coming to life with 11 fourth quarter points and the bench like a relay race with the baton passed to someone different every quarter and a response coming. Felicio finished a nice pick and roll for a dunk in the fourth quarter 10-0 spurt that effectively ended it, and another early in the quarter when Boston tried to trap Butler.

“It’s really simple,” said Butler. “When I’m open, I normally shoot the ball and sometimes when I’m not open I also shoot the ball. The majority of the time I pass it to the open guy and when they are making shots my job is a lot easier. People can’t load up on me and on top of everything these two (Rondo and Wade) do a lot of that as well. When they are attacking, being aggressive and they are getting everybody else involved, especially when we are getting stops. When we are getting stops we are pretty tough.”

Perhaps symbolically as well as per force, Butler, Wade and Rondo sat together at the post game press conference to answer questions. The NBA selects the stars of the game to bring to a media session outside the locker room. We may not have seen that scene of the three of them like that in months. But this appears to be a different dynamic, a team that has put its regular season woes and weaknesses behind it and bonded for a common goal.

“Hated him. Hated him as a competitor,” Wade laughed when asked about Rondo. “That hate is that respect. When we played against Boston back in the day, Rondo would mess up all the plays. He messes up your first option. And then he knows the second option. We (Miami) were just good enough to have a third option. He was that good. I think for myself and Jimmy to have someone who is so locked in, that gives us a different voice. We know we can go to him and ask anything. He’s watching film all the time. It’s key when you have a point guard like him that controls the whole game. You just have to play. As I told him, ‘Way to run the team.’ He did an amazing job of that.”

Who could have imagined that scene after those ugly days in January, team meeting, fines, benching, angry stares.

“You play to 82 games to learn a little bit about yourself and one thing I learned about this team is through adverse situations this team sticks together,” said Wade. “We had adversity this year, as every team has, and that’s the thing that has made us closer and stronger together. The credit through this team sticking together through injuries through everything to put ourselves in position to make the playoffs goes to everyone from the coaching staff to the leaders to the young guys; everyone did it together. When you win, when you come into the playoffs like this and you get wins together, it feels good because you know no one gives you a chance. Your success comes by what your guys do together and believe as a group. We all believe in each other and that has led to us playing a lot better of late.”

It manifested itself Tuesday in a forceful effort that saw the Bulls control the game and fleck off every Celtics run like lint on their collars.

It began with Mirotic’s play in the first quarter and six Bulls offensive rebounds in the quarter, two by Lopez. It seemed to take the heart out of the Celtics, at least their fans, with all the talk about changing that dynamic. Lopez was also sharp shooting, popping out of double teams against Butler and making eight of 11 shots.

“Some of the biggest shots of the whole game were Lopez’s jump shots,” said Boston coach Brad Stevens. “He hit those three jump shots in the third quarter. That kind of stemmed the tide of our run and were huge.”

After leading by 12 in the first quarter, the Bulls led 31-26 after one quarter. The Celtics closed quickly to open the second, eschewing the physical inside play for ball pressure with a smaller lineup. They got within 38-36 and then Wade got away for a dunk, making it after coming up short with one Sunday. A good sign. The Bulls found Lopez for a pair of jumpers, one a long push with time running out and the Bulls held onto a 54-46 halftime lead.

The Celtics are known for myriad adjustments and opened the second half with Zeller and quickly they were within 60-59. Mirotic finally added a third three pointer after missing four straight and so did Butler and Wade, Butler after another quiet first half scoring 10 third quarter points. And the Bulls were back ahead 79-65 and led 86-75 after three quarters.

“Jimmy is doing what he’s done all year,” said Hoiberg. “He just continues to go out there and make huge plays for our team; really, whatever needs to be done Jimmy’s right there in the middle of it. Whether we need a big basket, whether a double team comes, he’s making simple basketball plays leading to assists or hockey assists, rebounds, guards, he just does everything for this team.”

Defends, of course, also. Though he didn’t take Thomas head on much, Butler’s intelligence on defense was crucial and exemplary.

Most NBA teams seek out favorable matchups through pick and roll. The Bulls are known as a team that switches frequently on defense, so teams can maneuver into a matchup they like. Instead, Butler continued to blow them up. One great example was midway in the third quarter. Thomas runs a lot of pick and roll with Horford, who is defended often by Mirotic because of his perimeter shooting ability. So Boston tries to get Mirotic to switch onto Thomas, who can then go right by or step back. Watching Boston set that up several times, Butler jumps in over the screen, pushes Mirotic off to the corner and faces up the smaller Thomas. Thomas is not a particularly good passer, especially when thwarted in his move, and repeatedly the Celtics’ offense would break down.

“Fred Hoiberg is doing a helluva job of putting us in the right situations to go out there and get some wins,” said Rondo.

The fourth quarter was Wade, as he suggested earlier in the weekend, time for the classic car to come out of the garage and go for a spin again.

“Obviously we are featuring Jimmy,” Wade said. “We have to have guys throughout the series if we are going to win, it has to be their night. One night it’s gonna be Niko; one night it have to be Rondo; one night it might be me.”

After the Celtics gave it a last gasp with the crowd begging and Smart throwing in a three in Wade’s face, Wade went the other way and took over with a three, a driving score, another three, that one a long from on top and the Bulls were the story of the first weekend of the NBA playoffs with a 2-0 lead over the winningest team in the Eastern Conference.

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Bulls stun Celtics and take game two in Boston, 111-97

It might have taken the Chicago Bulls an entire season’s worth of games to qualify as a No. 8 seed for the NBA playoffs, but it sure didn’t take them long to land the first punch against the top seeded Boston Celtics in front of packed home crowd at TD Garden Easter Sunday.

On a highly-charged, emotional night the Celtics came up small in Game 1 of the opening round against the underdog Bulls, 106-102.

A day after learning of the tragic death of his little sister Chyna, Isaiah Thomas fought back tears and courageously stared down despair to lead the Cs with 33 points, five rebounds and six assists while teammate Al Horford recorded 19 points, seven boards and eight assists.

Collectively, the Bulls attacked the rim and dominated the backboard all night long, out-rebounding Boston 53-36, including seizing a whopping 20 offensive boards that Chicago converted into 23 second-chance points and a grand total of 44 scored in the paint overall.

Once again Jimmy Butler’s stellar play led the way for the Bulls as the sixth-year swingman recorded 30 points (15 in the fourth quarter) and nine rebounds, while starting center Robin Lopez posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards (eight offensive rebounds) across 34 minutes. Second-year power forward Bobby Portis also stepped to center stage in his playoff debut, shooting 8-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in contributing 19 points, nine boards, three assists and two blocks in 29 minutes of work off of the bench.

While the regular season oftentimes resembled an arduous slog through a colossal mud puddle, the playoffs offer a fresh start and the opportunity to bury the past. Every team that makes the postseason comes into it at 0-0, and in Game 1 Chicago hit the hardwood undaunted to the fact that they received their dance ticket on the final day of the season and that their reward was to go up against the best the East had to offer.

“We didn’t come here just to win one game,” Butler declared after Game 1, “We came here to win, period.”

In order for the Bulls to leave Beantown up 2-0 later tonight, Chicago will need to repeat most of its Sunday performance, meaning priority No. 1 will be to wrestle control of both the paint and backboards at both ends of the floor. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea if they paid a little more attention to Celtics at the arc.