Both the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics are contenders in the Eastern Conference this year and this game may make a huge difference regarding the question of which team will have a home court advantage in the first playoff round.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls made major moves in the off-season and now it all pays off as the team is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
DeMar DeRozan is the key man in Bulls’ success as the combo guard is averaging 27.7 points per game, which ranks him sixth in the league, 5.4 rebounds and 5 assists. During the season, DeRozan went on an eight-game streak scoring at least 35 points with 50% shooting from the field with only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain had a better run in league history.
Zach LaVine also is having a great season even though he missed some time with a back injury. The high-flying guard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on 47.9% shooting from the field and 39.5% from deep.
The Bulls have been on top of the league in January and February but are fifth at the moment with a 45-32 record. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 135-130 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Bulls are ranked third in the league shooting 48.1% from the field and 37% from the three-point line.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been out of the playoff picture for most of the season but have played so well lately that they went from the eighth spot in the East to the top of the conference real quick. The Celtics were 10-2 in February and 11-3 in March to secure another playoff berth. Not many saw them as a legit contender coming into this season, but coach Ime Udoka and GM Brad Stevens have done a great job with the young squad and the Celtics fans have a reason to be excited going into the postseason.
The Celtics are currently third in the Eastern Conference with a 47-30 record and are only two games behind the top-seeded Miami Heat. Boston was very close to taking over the top of the conference but lost to Miami at home 106-98 in their last game.
Jayson Tatum has become one of the best players in the league at the age of 24 and only the sky is the limit for him. Tatum is leading the team with 27 points per game which puts him in the eighth spot in the league and he also adds 8 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 45.1% shooting from the field and 35.3% from the three-point territory.
Jaylen Brown is another constant threat averaging 23.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Celtics.
The C’s did a great job bringing back centre Daniel Theiss who does the dirty work for the team and is reliable on both ends of the floor. The German center is averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench on 51% shooting from the field.
The Celtics are the best defensive team in the league, leading the NBA with 104 allowed points per game, 43.3% allowed field goal percentage and 33.7% allowed three-point percentage.
Our tip for the Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics game
Both teams have secured a playoff berth but as the team records are so closed they can end up anywhere between the first and the sixth spot. Therefore, this game is of high importance for both the Bulls and the Celtics.
Chicago has struggled lately but the fact is that they are among the best home teams in the league with a 27-10 record at the United Center. The Celtics are quite good on the road with a 19-17 record but the recent injury of their centre will prove to be the key factor in this game.
Both teams have great backcourt players but with Robert Williams III being out, the Celtics will be outrebounded by far. Nikola Vucevic is one of the most versatile big men in the league and will use his skill set to lead the Bulls to a win in this one. It will be a tight game with not many points and the Bulls will win by 5-10 points in a game under 215 points.