The top-seeded Boston Celtics are back from the brink of disaster.
They have dug themselves out of an 0-2 hole against the Chicago Bulls to regain control of the series. A victory Friday night would be the first time the franchise with 17 NBA titles has advanced past the first round since 2012.
“The key has been playing consistent,” Celtics guard Avery Bradley said about how Boston flipped the script. “The first two games we obviously were a little emotional. We weren’t playing team basketball. We were just kind of playing free and not executing our plays at both ends of the floor, and our game plans.
“Once we were able to slow down and focus on what we needed to do as a team on every detail, we were able to play a lot better.”
The Celtics weren’t expected to have to work this hard against a Bulls team that needed a tiebreaker to reach the playoffs. The Celts were dealt an emotional blow with the death of Isaiah Thomas’ sister the day before the playoffs began, and the Bulls took the first two games in Boston.
Forward Jae Crowder said the Celtics are a better team on the road.
“I had a good feeling in my heart when we came here 0-2 that we would come together and give ourselves a chance to win Game 3,” Crowder said. “That’s what happened. I just felt like we needed to get away from the stuff that was going on back home and just be us.”
Now the Bulls must do something they haven’t done this series – win a home game. And they’ll likely have to do it without Rajon Rondo, who broke his thumb in Game 2.
“You know, we’ve got to find a way to do the things that gave us success,” Bulls Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We have to have pace. Even though Rajon’s not out there, we still have to try to get down the floor and get into our actions with plenty of time on the shot clock.
“That’s changed obviously with Rajon being out of the lineup, but it is what it is and we’re going to continue to fight.”
Hoiberg said Isaiah Canaan will start in Rondo’s place for a second straight game.
Since Rondo injured his hand in Game 2, Boston won three straight. The Bulls averaged only 93.0 points in those games compared with 108.5 in the first two.
Hoiberg said his team played most of the Game 5 loss in Boston without a point guard on the floor.
“But just that’s the reality of the situation that we’re in right now,” he said. “It’s probably going to be that way the rest of the series.”
Rondo was a standout at both ends in the first two games, both Chicago victories on the road. He averaged 11.5 points, 10.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals.
“We had a real good thing going with Rajon,” Hoiberg said. “Our flow was excellent. Our pace was really good, just getting the ball down the floor early and striking before the defense was set. That’s something we had a lot of success with. Obviously, that part of our game has changed with Rondo out.”
Hoiberg also said forward Jimmy Butler had “some soreness” in his right knee but would play Friday.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
