It’s no secret that the Boston Celtics have had a frustrating start to their season with a 2-4 record just six games in, which includes one overtime win and two double-overtime losses.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier as they now have a matchup lined up with the 5-1 Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
So what are the keys to getting back on track with a big win against one of the four teams tied at the top of the conference?
Chicago’s defense is not an issue, but a strength
As of now, the Chicago Bulls rank third in opponent points per game and fifth in defensive rating across the entire league. At first many thought it was a fluke, but game after game Chicago has solidified themselves as legit.
The plus side for the Boston Celtics is that their two best scorers, Jayson Tatum (26.7 points per game) and Jaylen Brown (26.4 points per game), play the forward position which is a weak spot for the Bulls right now after it was announced Patrick Williams will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury.
So, if there is a way to beat this defense, it will be through attacking DeMar DeRozan and challenging Nikola Vucevic in the pick and roll.
Another key to this defense is that the Bulls are forcing the third-most turnovers per game in the league and we all know the Cs have struggled to protect the rock at times.
It will be important that Boston doesn’t lose the ball a few times and let it avalanche.
Containing two of LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic
The trio is combining to average 65 points per game so far.
Each one is capable of scoring 30 on any given night by themselves if they get hot, just as we saw DeRozan do in their most recent game against the Utah Jazz.
A big factor in doing this will be the health and status of Marcus Smart and Robert Williams after both were ruled out for Boston’s previous game with illnesses.
Smart will be necessary for slowing down LaVine and the same for Williams with Vucevic.
But especially considering how lackluster this Boston defense has been to this point, it would be huge for them to finally have a good night against a team with as many weapons as Chicago.
One key to look for will be fouls and free throw attempts.
Chicago has made a point of getting to the foul line. Not only are they sixth in the league with over 22 attempts a game but they make their free throws at an 86 percent clip, good for second in the league.
Boston, on the other hand, has been committing the most fouls per game of any team with 23.5 a night.
Can C’s 3-point shooting turnaround?
Boston has not been shying away from shooting the deep ball, despite only shooting 32 percent from deep as a team. Of the four players taking more than four treys a game (Tatum, Brown, Smart, Schroder), only one (Schroder – 35.7%) is shooting better than 33 percent.
This can’t go on forever.
Especially considering three of those four players have career 3-point percentages greater than 33 percent.
The issue is that Chicago has been great at defending the deep ball. They rank third in both opponent 3-pointers made and attempted per game, only allowing 10 makes a night.
With recent shooting struggles, Boston Celtics fans have been clamoring for Aaron Nesmith to get more minutes and, after Saturday’s 2-26 shooting performance, I’m with them.
Even though he’s yet to make a triple all season, this is what he was drafted to do and deserves another chance, especially with how the Celtics have been shooting so far this season.