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Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« on: October 26, 2016, 10:16:14 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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at
Boston Celtics (1-0) at Chicago Bulls (0-0)
Thursday, October 27, 2016
8:00 PM ET
Game #2, Road Game #1
TV: TNT, TSN
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub
United Center



Probable Starting Matchups 
Point Guard
  vs 
Isaiah Thomas vs Rajon Rondo

Shooting Guard 

  vs 
Avery Bradley vs Dwyane Wade

Small Forward
  vs 
Jae Crowder  vs  Jimmy Butler

Power Forward
  vs 
Al Horford vs Taj Gibson

Center
  vs 
Amir Johnson vs Robin Lopez

Reserves
Jaylen Brown
Gerald Green
Demetrius Jackson
Jonas Jerebko
Jordan Mickey
Terry Rozier
James Young
Tyler Zeller

Injuries
Kelly Olynyk  (shoulder)  out
Marcus Smart (ankle) out

Head Coach
Brad Stevens


Reserves
Isaiah Canaan
Michael Carter-Williams
Christiano Felicio
Jerian Grant
Doug McDermott
Nikola Mirotic
Bobby Portis
Denzel Valentine
Paul Zipser

Injuries
Denzel Valentine (ankle) probable
Christiano Felicio  (throat)  probable

Head Coach

Fred Hoiberg

Game Notes

The Celtics didn't have to wait long for their first back to back set of the season.  After opening at home against the Nets, the Celtics traveled to Chicago for the Bulls home opener.   The Celtics get to test their depth playing in the second of back to back games. 

The Bulls have fashioned their own version of a big 3 with Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo.  Rondo has said that he thinks that these 3 will be as good as the Celtics big 3 in 2008.  Some sports writers think that they will struggle to make the playoffs while others feel that will be one of the top teams in the league.  I guess time will tell.

For tonight, the Celtics need to be ready to do battle with their former point guard and his new team.  The Bulls added 8 new players in the offseason including starters Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.   They had a 3-4 record in the preseason but that might be expected with so many new players trying to learn a new system. 

The Celtics won the series 2-1 last season but the Bulls are a very different team this season.  They lost Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Mike Dunleavy, and E'Twaun Moore.  The Celtics return with mostly the same core but have added some key players in Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Gerald Green. 

The Celtics will be without Kelly Olynyk, who is still rehabbing his shoulder after off season surgery.  He is expected back in mid-November.  Marcus Smart will also miss his second game with the ankle injury that he suffered in the final preseason game.  He is expected to be out another week. 

Denzel Valentine injured his ankle in the Bulls' preseason opener and missed the rest of the preseason.  He practiced for the first time on Tuesday and is probable for this game.  Christiano Felicio also returned to practice after an elbow to the throat in the Bulls' preseason finale sidelined him.  He is also probable for Thursday's game.  If both return, the Bulls will be at full strength.

Key Matchups

  vs 
Isaiah Thomas vs Rajon Rondo
Rondo is excited about being in Chicago and playing with Wade and Butler, even though for years he couldn't say enough about how dirty Dwyane Wade was.  Rondo averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 25.1 minutes per game in the preseason.  He hasn't improved his shot all that much but he can hit big shots when he needs to.  He is also still very fast and when he feels like it, can still play good defense. 

  vs 
Avery Bradley vs Dwyane Wade
Bradley has always given Dwyane Wade fits as a defender and hopefully that still holds true.   Wade averaged 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 21.8 minutes per game in the preseason.  Avery is anxious to show off his improved shooting this season and hopefully he can wear Wade out and get the better of this matchup.

  vs 
Jae Crowder  vs  Jimmy Butler
The Bulls resident star is Jimmy Butler.  There were a lot of trade rumors swirling around him over the summer with many of them involving the Celtics.  He even spent soom time working out with Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown over the summer.  Now Jaylen will join Jae in trying to keep Butler from having a big game.  Butler averaged 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 25.3 minutes per game. 

Keys to the Game

Defense -  The Celtics have some very good defenders and could have one of the top defensive teams in the league.  Each player needs to make defense a priority and be sure to have each others' backs on team defense.  Defense wins games.   

Rebound - The Celtics can't score if they don't have the ball.  Much of rebounding is effort and desire and so the Celtics must put out the extra effort on the boards to give themselves extra possessions as well as to limit the Bulls fast break opportunities and second chance points.   When the Celtics put out the extra effort to crash the boards, they usually play better all around as well. 

Run and Move the Ball
- The Celtics play best when they run on every possession and run back on defense to get set before the Bulls can get into their offense.  They also need to move the ball because when the ball sticks too much with one player then the offense gets stagnant.  We saw the starters move the ball very well in the preseason and they need to continue that now that the games count.

Be Aggressive
- The Celtics must be aggressive on both ends of the court.  They have to be the more aggressive team going for loose balls, on defense, on the boards, and in going to the hoop.  Against the Nets they let up and almost let the game slip away.  They have to play like they want it more for 48 minutes. 

Be Smart on Offense
- The Celtics need to move the ball to find the open man for easier shots.  They have to take open shots when they get them and not be too unselfish.  They also need to know that if their 3's aren't falling, they should take the ball inside. 

X-Factors
Back to Back
The Celtics are already experiencing their first back to back set.   Last season they were very good in the second of back to back games.  Hopefully they can continue that this season and fatigue won't be a problem for the old guys like Gerald Green. 


Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2016, 10:16:54 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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First first first. First. First. Ha ha ha. First to post. Maybe there is a god after all. ;D

Celtics will continue their winning ways and stomp the snot out of the bulls. The bulls will be bullied.

Goooooooo. Celtics!,,  ;D

Oh, and thanks flc. Tp again.
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
- Vandana Shiva

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2016, 10:17:05 PM »

Offline Snakehead

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Get that second win boys!
"I really don't want people to understand me." - Jordan Crawford

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2016, 10:19:04 PM »

Offline jpotter33

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This should be a fun one. I think we tend to play down to our competition at times, so tomorrow on national tv should bring out our best, not to mention our uncanny tendency to play better on the second night of a back to back.

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2016, 10:29:22 PM »

Offline alldaboston

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Let's stay undefeated!
I could very well see the Hawks... starting Taurean Prince at the 3, who is already better than Crowder, imo.

you vs. the guy she tells you not to worry about

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2016, 10:33:44 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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And with pleasure I award a TP to hwangjini_1 for being the first to post in the game thread!!!   

Gooooooooooooo Celtics!!!

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2016, 10:34:37 PM »

Offline celticslove

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Let's go Cs!


Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2016, 10:38:55 PM »

Offline alldaboston

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And with pleasure I award a TP to hwangjini_1 for being the first to post in the game thread!!!   

Gooooooooooooo Celtics!!!

look at that posts total for FLCeltsFan!! 3333. two larry legends!!
I could very well see the Hawks... starting Taurean Prince at the 3, who is already better than Crowder, imo.

you vs. the guy she tells you not to worry about

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2016, 10:40:16 PM »

Offline positivitize

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watch out for the RJ Hunter revenge game.
My biases, in order of fervor:
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Smart, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Kemba, Grant Williams, Sleepy Williams, Edwards!

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Kanter, Semi, Theis, Poierier

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2016, 11:00:33 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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did RJ sign with Bulls? He must have handed them our playbook.

Just joking.

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2016, 11:02:36 PM »

Offline Surferdad

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This will be a good early season test.  The level of competition and talent will be a step up from the Nets and the pre-season.

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2016, 09:13:37 AM »

Offline InBradWeTrust

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Need to come out and stay aggressive - these Cs need to show some killer instinct early and often in this game.

Looking forward to a fun one to watch, especially once our defenders get into Rondo's brain.

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2016, 09:18:13 AM »

Offline BitterJim

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did RJ sign with Bulls? He must have handed them our playbook.

Just joking.

Honestly though, RJ is a smart guy, I'm sure he could give away some of Brad's plays if he wanted to.  He doesn't seem like the type to do that, but if he gets a chance to play tonight he'll break up a play or two just by knowing what's coming
I'm bitter.

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #13 on: October 27, 2016, 09:18:34 AM »

Offline BASS_THUMPER

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already got the 40's chillin

Re: Celtics (1-0) at Bulls (0-0) Game #2 10/27/16
« Reply #14 on: October 27, 2016, 09:38:42 AM »

Offline TheTruthFot18

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The Nets will finish with the worst record and the Celtics will end up with the 4th pick.

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