Author Topic: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12  (Read 80298 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« on: February 11, 2012, 12:36:55 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11832
  • Marcus Smart Fan!
  at 
Chicago Bulls (23-6) at Boston Celtics (14-12)
Sunday, February 12
3:30 PM ET
Game #27,  Home Game #18
TV:  ABC, TSN2
Radio:   WEEI,  WMVP, ESPNR
TD Garden 




Probable Starters

PG: Rajon Rondo..................................................SG Ray Allen

C:  Jermaine O'Neal

SF:  Paul Pierce ................................. ............PF Kevin Garnett

Coach: Doc Rivers

Boston Reserves
Brandon Bass
Mickael Pietrus
Chris Wilcox
JaJuan Johnson
Greg Siemsma 
E'Twaun Moore
Avery Bradley
Marquis Daniels

Injured
Sasha Pavlovic (wrist) day to day
Keyon Dooling (hip) day to day
Jermaine O'Neal (shoulder) day to day




Probable Starters

PG:  Derrick Rose............................................. SG:  Ronnie Brewer

C:  Joakim Noah 

SF:  Luol Deng .................................................. PF:  Carlos Boozer

Coach:  Tom Thibodeau 

Bulls Bench
John Lucas III
Omer Asik 
Kyle Korver
Taj Gibson
Jimmy Butler
Brian Scalabrine
CJ Watson

Injuries
Rip Hamilton (groin) day to day
Derrick Rose (back) day to day

Team Connections
Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was a member of the Celtics coaching staff from 2007-10 and was a member of the 2008 NBA Championship coaching staff
Bulls Assistant Coaches Ed Pinckney (1988-94) and Adrian Griffin (1999-2001) played for the Celtics
Brian Scalabrine played for the Celtics from 2005-10 and was a member of the 2008 NBA championship team
Rip Hamilton and Ray Allen both attended the University of Connecticut
Jimmy Butler and Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers both attended Marquette University
C.J. Watson and Mickael Pietrus were teammates in Golden State during the 2007-08 season
Rip Hamilton and Chris Wilcox were teammates in Detroit from 2009-11

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo  13.6 PPG,  9.6 APG,  4.6 RPG 1.7 SPG
Derrick Rose   22.0 PPG, 7.8 APG, 3.4 RPG  0.9 SPG
This is one of the premier point guard matchups in the league.  There is a lot of discussion about whether Rondo or Rose is the better PG and in a head to head matchup, expect both players to do their best to make their case as the best.  Rose missed the Bulls' last game with a sore back but I expect him to play in this one.  He missed the game before their last game and came back to play against Rondo.  In that last meeting, Rose had 25 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 turnovers.  Rondo finished with 14 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers. 

  vs 
Jermaine O'Neal  5.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG,  .4 APG 1.5 BPG
Joakim Noah   8.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.2 APG,  1.2 BPG 
Both of these centers have been struggling somewhat this season.  O'Neal missed the last meeting between these two teams and Bass filled in quite well for him.  Noah had 10 points and 13 rebounds while Bass had 10 points and 9 rebounds.   Whoever starts against the Bulls MUST box out and keep Noah off the glass and out of the paint.     

Honorable Mention

Paul Pierce  18.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, .421 FG%
Luol Deng    16.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, .439 FG%
After two substandard games for Pierce, he is due for a good game.   Deng has always defended Pierce well in the past.  Paul needs to play team ball and not lapse into hero ball as he did against the Lakers. 

Game Notes

This is the second meeting between these two teams.  The first one ended in an 88-79 win for the Bulls.  The Celtics played without Jermaine O'Neal and may have to do so again in this game as he missed the Raptors game with a sore shoulder and his status for this game isn't known as yet.   Since that time, however, the Celtics found their way and went on a winning streak.  They seem to have lost it again in the past 2 games. 

The Bulls have the best record in the East and the Celtics would love to get a win against them to prove to themselves and everyone else that they can beat contending teams and that their recent success wasn't just a fluke.  The Bulls have won the last 3 meetings between these two teams and have split the series 2-2 for the past 2 seasons. 

Both teams are 7-3 in their last 10 games.  The Celtics are 10-7 at home.  Even with their All Star point guard missing several games to injuries, the Bulls have played well both on the road and at home.  They are 14-5 on the road.  The Celtics have lost their last 2 games while the Bulls are on a 5 game win streak.   

Both teams played on the road on Friday and both teams had Saturday off.  The Bulls come into this one buoyed by a 31 point win over Charlotte, even without Rose.  The Celtics are mired in a 2 game losing streak that is no one's fault but their own.  The Celtics must get back to playing like they did to build the 5 game win streak if they want to get back in the win column.   

Keys to the Game

Rondo/Rose Matchup -  This is not only a key matchup, but one of the keys to the game.  Both point guards control the tempo of their team and both are key to their team's success.  If Rose's back injury keeps him out, CJ Watson may get his second straight start.  Rondo played very passively against the Raptors and couldn't seem to get it going.  The Celtics need an aggressive and focused Rondo in order to compete against contending teams like the Bulls. 

Limit turnovers - The Celtics have been turning the ball over way too much.  They have been making sloppy passes and not taking care of the ball when dribbling.  Much of this is focus and the Celtics just haven't had it in their last 2 games.  They must take better care of the ball. 

Rebound
- The Celtics have to do a better job of rebounding the ball.   They were out-rebounded 47-34 by the Bulls in their first meeting.   They were out-rebounded 42-34 by the Raptors and 55-45 by the Lakers.  The Celtics have to do a better job of boxing out and grabbing the rebounds.  They are allowing way too many tip ins and put backs and second chance baskets.   Much of rebounding is desire and the Celtics just haven't been showing that they want it more than their opponents. 

Focus - The Celtics have got to focus on playing the team game.  They have been sloppy and passive and lethargic in their last two games.  Their ball movement has been almost non-existent and instead of moving the ball and finding the open man, they have been doing too much dribbling and tossing up shots that haven't been going in. 

X-Factor
Focus and Passion
The Celtics have not been focused in their last two games.  Their lack of focus even got Doc so frustrated he publicly blasted the team during a time out in Toronto.  They have to, as a team, come out focused and concentrate on running their sets and playing a team game.  They also have to find some passion somewhere.  In watching the Knicks, they are getting passion and excitement from Lin.  I don't see that in any of the Celtics.  They have to want to win more than the other team and for that, they must look within. 

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2012, 01:26:09 AM »

Offline esel1000

  • Ed Macauley
  • ***********
  • Posts: 11547
  • Tommy Points: 587
forgive me if I don't have much optimism for this game... or the one after for that matter, nothing like facing the most well rounded team with the best record in the nba for 2 straight games...

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2012, 01:32:07 AM »

Offline green7

  • Jaylen Brown
  • Posts: 611
  • Tommy Points: 30
i say sit ray have rondo and bradley start, have both of them tired their opponents with defense and fastbreaks then that's when ray comes in running off screens and hitting those 3 bombs.

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2012, 01:36:50 AM »

Offline Who

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 47136
  • Tommy Points: 2401
Not feeling good about these two games against Chicago.

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2012, 02:08:28 AM »

Offline Q_FBE

  • Bailey Howell
  • **
  • Posts: 2317
  • Tommy Points: 243
Guess what, I expect them to be sloppy, lethargic, and struggling against the Bulls too. They seem to be losing their way and I blame poor talent for that.
The beatings will continue until morale improves

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2012, 09:06:39 AM »

Offline bfrombleacher

  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3343
  • Tommy Points: 367
UGH I hate those obnoxious Rose fans. Jerks.

Edit: how can I forget: GO US!
« Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 10:50:53 AM by bfrombleacher »

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2012, 09:09:50 AM »

Offline ACF

  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10756
  • Tommy Points: 1157
  • A Celtic Fan
TP. Go Celtics!

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2012, 03:11:31 PM »

Online letsgoblue86

  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3620
  • Tommy Points: 279
Only chance we have is if Rose doesn't play.

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2012, 03:24:31 PM »

Offline j804

  • Satch Sanders
  • *********
  • Posts: 9188
  • Tommy Points: 3060
  • BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS
Only chance we have is if Rose doesn't play.
You know he's playing he sat out the last one so he'd be ready to go in this one.
"7ft PG. Rondo leaves and GUESS WHAT? We got a BIGGER point guard!"-Tommy on Olynyk


Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2012, 03:25:04 PM »

Offline ACF

  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10756
  • Tommy Points: 1157
  • A Celtic Fan


Box. Out.

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2012, 03:25:13 PM »

Offline djbilly33

  • Kristaps Porzingis
  • Posts: 184
  • Tommy Points: 11
Can't beat the Raptors, can't beat the Lakers at home, we have no chance of winning this game unless D Rose, Boozer and Noah don't play.

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2012, 03:26:12 PM »

Offline Smitty77

  • NCE
  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3063
  • Tommy Points: 269
Rose is expected to play.  He always seems to miss games before and after playing us, but always seems to lace up the shoestrings against us:-((((((((((((((((

Smitty77

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2012, 03:29:21 PM »

Offline j804

  • Satch Sanders
  • *********
  • Posts: 9188
  • Tommy Points: 3060
  • BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS
Rose is expected to play.  He always seems to miss games before and after playing us, but always seems to lace up the shoestrings against us:-((((((((((((((((

Smitty77
That's because Thibs loves taking us to the back of the shed on his former team.

D Rose kills us every time if Rondo doesn't match his intensity this one will be done by halftime
"7ft PG. Rondo leaves and GUESS WHAT? We got a BIGGER point guard!"-Tommy on Olynyk


Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2012, 03:49:55 PM »

Offline green7

  • Jaylen Brown
  • Posts: 611
  • Tommy Points: 30
i just wish rondo would understand that we don't want his flashy passes at the moment save that for later in the season,we want ball movement and scoring not ball holding till the clock hits like 3.0 seconds just to get a assist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4RZ4dEZImw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2suTNoqhCbQ

this is what i want to see ^ from rondo all night

Re: Bulls (23-6) at Celtics (14-12) 2/12
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2012, 03:52:53 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11832
  • Marcus Smart Fan!


Box. Out.

TP

 This times a million.   I watched the Thunder game last night and was loving seeing Perk box out.  The Celtics have forgotten the fine art of the box out.  
« Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 04:10:34 PM by FLCeltsFan »