An important Eastern Conference tilt took place on Thursday night, as the Boston Celtics took care of business over the Chicago Bulls in a 110-101 victory.
The key of the game was the Bulls turnover problem which resulted in 20 miscues. The Celtics converted 26 points off the 20 turnovers, leading to complete control of the game and its outcome.
Guard Isaiah Thomas scored 22 points and dished out five assists in 31 minutes of action. Guard Avery Bradley chipped in 21 points and had four steals on the defensive end. The x-factor in the game was Celtics center Jared Sullinger, who has averaged 9.9 points per game and over 8 rebounds per game so far this season. He raised his level Friday night, bringing in 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Sullinger also helped the pick-and-roll play with guards Thomas and Bradley, and it was a success.
The Bulls have been struggling as of late. They have conceded their sixth loss in the last eight games. Defensive effort and hustle were not shown as it seems the team is playing with a lack of urgency. Coach Fred Hoiberg is not happy with his teams performance.
When asked if it was upsetting how many times his team seems to come up soft at certain points in the game, the first-year head coach was honest in his assessment.
"Yes," Hoiberg said. "Yeah, I am. I am."
Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler were also adamant about their team's lack of focus and toughness after combining for 55 points.
"We're not giving that extra effort to be a championship team right now," Rose stated. Rose has been one of the few bright spots as of late, bringing his level up on both sides of the ball.
Butler also has been showing toughness despite the team's current lack of rotational presence while grabbing 14 rebounds on the day. The guard explained, "If you look at our roster we got guys that can really score the ball. We've got guys with the potential to play defense. We just go out there and we don't do it. We talk about it, we talk about it a lot, but we got to correct it. It's time to stop talking about it. We've been talking about this all year long."
Bulls core players Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott have struggled mightily as of late. What seemed to be a team of depth is now lacking it.
A left quad injury has kept guard Kirk Hinrich out for a third straight game. Center Joakim Noah is a long term absence the squad has suffered, as well as a long awaited return from Mike Dunleavy still not in the cards. The Celtics exposed the Bulls weaknesses, as the away team trailed the whole night and struggled to stay in it at the end.
Celtics Get Ahead Of Bulls Early On
As the game got under way the Celtics seemed to know the right plays to draw up from the get go. The Bulls were lackadaisical as the home team made them pay. The Celtics grabbed an early 14-8 lead thanks to a three pointer from Kelly Olynyk. Marcus Smart made a jump shot to end the quarter up 34-23.
During the second quarter things went back and forth, as the Celtics' lead dwindled at certain points. Then the Bulls fell asleep with four minutes remaining in the half. The Celtics went on a 10 point run to widen the lead to 60-44. The half ended at 64-49.
Bulls Waste Opportunities As They Climb Back
Rose displayed one of his best quarters of play through the whole season in the third quarter. The point guard scored an important 16 points off of many improvised shots.
The third quarter ended with a Rose pull up three to get the game within eight points. In the fourth quarter, Celtics forward Jae Crowder showed off hustle as he outworked his opponents while grabbing a rebound and drawing a foul.
Pau Gasol picked up his level of play and tipped in a layup to reach 14 points with 9:23 remaining. The Celtics began to go cold from the field as nothing was able to fall. Rose, Butler and Gasol stepped up to keep inching closer. A one point deficit was reached after Butler earned two well deserved free throws. Things seemed as if the Bulls would manage to find a way.
Sullinger, Bradley and Thomas would once again get back in the groove. It saw the Bulls chances slowing slipping away as they made careless shot selection choices. A Sullinger layup with a minute and a half remaining put the nail in the coffin. With a minute remaining the Bulls were forced to foul to stay in it. The Celtics stood strong in the end getting the 110-101 victory.
Now at 24-18 after a disappointing road loss, the Bulls will need to find answers or else the inconsistency will continue.