Preview: Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls

Previewing the second game of back to backs for the Boston Celtics against the Chicago Bulls

The Boston Celtics waste no time in getting their first back to back games of the season, this time the back end is against the new look Chicago Bulls. With Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah gone, Jimmy Butler‘s new running mates are newly added veterans Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade. The Bulls have an opportunity to make some noise in the Eastern Conference, and they need to prove themselves against a team like the Celtics.

During their whole time under Brad Stevens, the Celtics have been phenomenal on the back end of back to backs. They have always found ways to avoid any of the pitfalls of playing with little rest, and that becomes even more important against a team that will be making their season debut tomorrow.

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In the past, one of the big advantages for the Celtics on these back to backs has been their depth. Stevens has done a great job with his rotations. Even if it took a platoon like system, Stevens always kept fresh legs on the court and always got the energy and the intensity that he needed.

This season, that depth is certainly in question for the Celtics. They looked good in spurts against the Brooklyn Nets, but injuries to Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk caught up to them in a wild way in the fourth quarter. A second unit full court press stumped the Celtics, turning a blowout into a bizarre nail biter. The flip side is that gave the starters some additional rest, but the concerning part is not the extra minutes at this point.

The problem is that the Celtics cannot anticipate the same kind of boost from their second unit right now, and that could be exposed in a bad way against the Bulls. The second unit matchup gets even more interesting considering R.J Hunter has just reached an agreement with the Bulls. Although the man that beat him out, James Young, saw no playing time against the Nets, making a potential showdown between the two unlikely.

The Celtics need to prove that they can maintain their success on back to backs and they can certainly ride their starters to another victory. Isaiah Thomas looked just as spectacular last year, and the unit as a whole looked comfortable. The 36 assists in the first game is a great indicator that chemistry is not going to be an issue and they should play in rhythm.

The only problem is the Bulls have multiple defenders that will create a ton of problems for the Celtics, whereas the Nets provided little resistance. He may no longer be a match for Thomas, but Rondo has proven that he can be a strong defender in the NBA. He has the size and strength and his ability to generate steals can be disruptive. If Rondo can mange to take Thomas off his game at all, it is difficult to gauge what the offense will be like.

The Bulls also have one of the premier defenders in the NBA in Butler. He could draw any number of match ups for the Celtics and in every case, he will be one of the most disruptive players on the court. The Celtics need to be confident in their ball movement and they need to make sure that these stronger defenders do not take them off their game.

Pace will also be a factor in this game. The Bulls could have a historically bad shooting team this season. They will want to slow things down and make sure they limit Boston’s opportunities. The Celtics also struggle shooting the ball and the Bulls could force them into a rut if they are not pushing the pace and doing damage in transition.

This Bulls team remains one of the more difficult teams to gauge in the East. they could have a lot of work to do to figure out how they need to play in order to accommodate such drastic personnel changes. The Bulls certainly have the talent, but Wade has been declining for a while and Rondo still has never recaptured the way he played with the Celtics.

The Celtics need to make sure they take advantage of a team that may not have the best chemistry. Their defense should have no problem disrupting them on the offensive end, and they have favourable match ups. It will be interesting to see where Bradley matches up. Rondo will be the ball handler but his talent may be more useful against a better scorer in Wade. Thomas will have to do his job against Rondo, with Jae Crowder taking on the most important matchup of the game with Butler.

Also look for Al Horford to leave a big mark on this game. With Robin Lopez matching up a the center position, he will be an option that the Celtics look too often. Horford was strong against the Nets on both ends, and could become even more involved on the offensive end if the Bulls manage to slow the game down.

Next: Boston Celtics Player of The Game: Isaiah Thomas

The Celtics will certainly be tested more in their second game than their first, and they have little time to dwell on what happened in the fourth quarter against the Nets. Against the Bulls, that kind of inconsistency will be insurmountable. Establishing consistency will be a major factor for the Celtics throughout the season, and that begins by securing wins in these first back to backs, as they try to improve before their meeting against the Cleveland Cavaliers.