USA TODAY International Edition
Bulls hit stride at right time, have reeling Celtics on ropes
The signs foretelling that the eighth- seeded Chicago Bulls would take a 2- 0 series lead against the top- seeded Boston Celtics were not billboard size.
But small signs did exist that suggested the Bulls could give the Celtics a series, such as Chicago’s improved play after the All- Star break. In the final seven weeks of the season — almost a third of the regular season and not an insignificant sample size — the Bulls had the third- best defense in the NBA.
That coincided with impressive individual performances from forwards Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis and guard Rajon Rondo.
And when the Bulls needed victories in the final 21⁄2 weeks of the regular season, they beat the playoff- bound Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in consecutive games and won their final two when a loss would’ve knocked them out of the playoffs.
They are, as Celtics coach Brad Stevens noted, playing their best basketball of the season at the start of the playoffs. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged the same Friday in an interview with USA TODAY Sports: “We found a way at maybe the most important part of the season to play our best basketball. Hopefully we can continue with that.”
Chicago is two victories from pulling off a rare eight- over- one upset. Game 3 is Friday ( 7 p. m. ET, ESPN).
Since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, the No. 1 seed is 61- 5 against the No. 8. The eighth seed has won three of those series in the previous 10 playoffs: Philadelphia over Chicago in 2012, Memphis over San Antonio in 2011 and Golden State over Dallas in 2007.
The Bulls’ 2- 0 lead is the first time the eighth seed has won the first two games of a series against the first seed since 1993.
“I can’t sit there and sulk today,” Stevens said. “I can’t sit here and complain, worry or be down. The biggest thing we have to do is be forward- looking and prepare for Friday.”
The Celtics are also dealing with a tragedy. All- Star guard Isaiah Thomas’ sister, Chyna, died in a car accident Saturday. It’s impossible to measure that lifechanging experience on the team.
“This is really hard,” Stevens said. “It’s super hard on Isaiah. During the games and during walk- throughs and the film, he’s trying his very best to focus. In a guy’s sanctuary, like the gym is for Isaiah, he is able to alleviate the pain for those couple of hours. There’s no question there are moments during that time that are hard on him, but the other 21 hours are really tough.
“We all feel for him. We are here to support him in any which way we can.”
Butler, one of the league’s best two- way players, has been the star, averaging 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5. assists.
Rondo has directed an Academy Award production of the offense with 11.5 points and 10 assists per game.
Mirotic and Portis — who had diminished roles during portions of the regular season — have delivered, too, along with veteran guard Dwyane Wade, who is shooting 66.7% on threepointers.
Chicago has also focused on missed shots and outrebounded the Celtics 96- 74 and outscored them 37- 27 on second- chance points.
The coaching staff also has the team prepared, especially on defense, where the Bulls are limiting the Celtics’ options with timely switches.
Don’t discount Chicago’s playoff experience, either. Wade has three titles, Rondo one. Butler has been in 34 playoff games.
Yes, the Bulls have played well. And no, the Celtics have not. That’s a function of both what the Bulls have done and what the Celtics haven’t, and the idea that as 1- 8 matchups go, this one wasn’t as lopsided on paper as previous ones.
Boston finished with the lowest number of victories ( 53) for a one seed since the 2006- 07 Detroit Pistons won 53, and the Bulls- Celtics season series was 2- 2.
While 12 games separated the teams in the standings, just 2.2 points separated them in point-differential ( points scored vs. points allowed) during the regular season. Compare that with the 12.1 point- differential advantage between Golden State and Portland in the Western Conference.
Amid the tragedy, Stevens also must get the Celtics ready for Game 3. He knows they need to focus on rebounding, playing better defense and reducing transition mistakes.
Feeling underappreciated most of the season, the Celtics played with a chip on their shoulders, and Stevens wants his players to rediscover that mentality.
“That has to happen,” Stevens said. “That’s the charge for our team.”