Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Game 4 Preview
Where: United Center – Chicago, IL
When: Sunday, April 23, 2017 – 6:30 PM ET
Line: Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls – total: TBA – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the Boston Celtics
Following two flat performances, the Celtics were finally able to play like a first-seed. They dragged the Bulls all over United Center in Game 3 with a dominating 104-87 victory.
True to their team-oriented style of basketball, Boston had 34 assists and five players score in double figures, four of which were the starters. The heavy-hearted Isaiah Thomas, who just re-joined the team after days of attending his late sister’s funeral, had 16 points and nine assists.
Al Horford gave his usual all-around numbers, tallying 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. The other key starters, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley, scored 16 and 15, respectively, while also scattering a several boards and dimes under their name.
It’s a great win that will help them regain some of the lost confidence. They should be able to continue benefiting from opposing guard and former Celtic Rajon Rondo (thumb) being out indefinitely, since he carved up the Celtics’ offense and defense pretty well in Games 1 and 2.
The Cs are still very alive in this series. With Rondo sidelined, they are in a good route to takeover control of the matchup, thanks to owning better offensive players and more active guards. What’s left is improving the rebounding.
Betting on the Chicago Bulls
Rajon Rondo had a quiet year and is currently injured, and yet he looked like the Bulls’ MVP after the loss in Game 3. It’s just telling how the team quickly returned to a stagnant offense once the “playoff/national TV” Rondo was gone. He was putting up 11.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 10 assists before a fractured thumb was discovered.
That stagnancy, as you may have witnessed all season long, was about Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler’s love for the ISO and mid-range shot. The two combined for an awful 13-for-39 shooting, with none of their teammates taking more than seven shots. Additionally, Butler, the usually and supposed-to-be aggressive attacker and willing passer, had zero free throws and assists.
They will continue having the upper hand in boards and size, but if such problems on offense isn’t fixed or Rondo isn’t able to return in time, what we saw on Friday will just keep on happening, and it will eventually result in a firs-round ouster.
Writer’s Prediction
The Celtics tie it up to two apiece, 105-92.
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