MATCH RESCHEDULED: Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls ‘New’ Kick-off time prediction, team news, lineups.
MATCH RESCHEDULED: Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls ‘New’ Kick-off time prediction, team news, lineups.
The Boston Celtics have lost two in a row, and will look to break that streak when they visit the
Chicago Bulls for the second time tonight. The two last faced each other on November 12,
and Boston rode a near triple-double from Rajon Rondo to a 101-95 victory.
A lot has taken place in the last month. Boston’s collective age has been exposed,
and the team has struggled to a 4-7 record on the road. As a whole,
the Celtics look very average and not at all like the team that came within
a win of a trip to the NBA Finals last season.
Chicago has also not been at its best this season, as star point guard Derrick Rose continues to come back from ACL surgery. Despite that, the Bulls have continued to play well as a unit and are in first place in the Central Division. In the star’s absence, everyone has done a great job of stepping up their efforts.
Of course, the Bulls are still a young team compared to the experienced Celtics. Boston, despite its age, has various advantages over Chicago, and will look to exploit them as it looks to get back on the winning track tonight.
Time: Tuesday, December 18, 8 p.m. ET
TV: CSN Chicago, CSN HD
Records: Boston Celtics (12-11) vs. Chicago Bulls (13-10)
Betting Lines: Boston (+1.5), Chicago (-1.5)
Injuries: Avery Bradley (shoulder, out), Derrick Rose (knee, out), Richard Hamilton (foot, out)
Key Storyline: Can Boston Break Streak Away from Home?
If Boston is to break its two-game losing streak tonight, the team will have to overcome the road woes that have plagued it all season. The Celtics are 4-7 away from TD Garden, and a loss tonight would send them home following a winless road trip.
Fortunately for the Celtics, the Bulls have not necessarily been unstoppable at home. Chicago has gone 7-6 at the United Center this season, clearly missing the Rose’s presence in the lineup.
Boston will have a clear advantage at the point tonight with Rajon Rondo, who guided the Celtics to a win in Chicago earlier this season. If he is on his game and his go-to guys make their shots consistently, Boston’s chances at victory will grow tremendously.
However, don’t count the Bulls out just yet. After losing to Boston at home in November, they will surely have watched a lot of tape to figure out what not to do this time around.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau will definitely have a defensive strategy in place aimed to shut down Rondo, and will also have plenty of plays set so that stars Luol Deng and Joakim Noah get plenty of opportunities on offense.
Both teams are banged up and looking for a win, which will make for a close final result. In a battle of youth vs. experience, this should be quite the game to watch.
Key Matchup: Luol Deng vs. Paul Pierce
Even as the team’s age begins to show, the Celtics can still count on veteran
Paul Pierce to have a great game. The 35-year-old has only shot
41 percent from the field this season, but is still averaging 19.7 points and
5.5 rebounds per game. Pierce has also shot a respectable
35 percent from long range, further maintaining his status as one of the best scorers in the NBA.
Pierce is also one of the game’s best defenders, averaging 1.6 steals on the season,
and he will be matched up tonight against another fine pest in Chicago’s Luol Deng.
The former Duke Blue Devil has done a fine job stepping up in
Rose’s absence and has provided quality offense as well as great lockdown defense.
Deng also has a distinct advantage against Pierce in that he is only 27 years old.
It doesn’t count for much, but could still make enough of a difference
over the course of the game. Deng has also averaged 41 minutes to Pierce’s 34.3,
further adding to the case that he is more durable and can spend more time on the floor.
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