Final: Celtics 114, Bulls 112 - Celtics flip script, finish 4th quarter strong to win a close game

GAME 44
Boston Celtics (21-22, 13-8 home, 11th East) vs. Chicago Bulls (27-13, 12-7 road, 1st East)
TD Garden
8:30 PM - NBC Sports Boston

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

Boston: Dennis Schröder, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Robert Williams

Chicago: DeMar DeRozan, Troy Brown, Jr., Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

- Marcus Smart remains out in Health and Safety Protocols

- Alex Caruso remains out for Chicago in Health and Safety Protocols

- Also out for Chicago: Lonzo Ball (knee), Tyler Cook (ankle), Javonte Green (adductor), Derrick Jones, Jr. (knee), Zach LaVine (knee), Patrick Williams (wrist)

- Boston is favored by 6.5

GOING A LITTLE DEEPER

The offense is still a puzzle that needs solving. 

Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks horrible. The inconsistency is maddening. 

“More of what we saw in Indiana and less of last night,” Ime Udoka said before the Celtics-Bulls game. “You can obviously visually see it and feel it, but one of our least efficient ball movement nights and coming off the Indiana game that was obviously a little surprising. We want to get back to what we did well in that game and when the ball moves obviously we’re a different team. Much easier for our guys to get going, and just continue to build on that.”

One ongoing issue is the radical change the team is asking of Brown and Tatum. 

“It’s been obviously one of the main goals coming into this season is to get them to do more than just score,” Udoka said. “At times we look really good doing it and at times we get rattled and kind of revert back to some things that make us less successful. 

“So whether it’s referees or individual matchups getting caught in that or whatever the case may be, or poor scoring in general. Sometimes they take the onus on themselves sometimes and I think just being consistent as far as that and not reverting back to some old habits obviously makes us a better team so that’s the challenge every night and an area they’ve grown. We’ve seen flashes, now it’s just putting it together more often than not.”

Patience is thin around here but fans will get over it if they ever find some consistency. The question is whether the team has patience with the process. Brown recently dropped a 50 point game, but also a 22 point, 11 rebound, 11 assist game for his first career triple-double.

“It's just as valuable. Whether it's Jayson and Jaylen score 30 each, or 25 with a triple double, it all equals baskets for other guys,” Udoka said. “Certain nights of course when one of those guys is missing, or they are not in the game at the same time, they do a little bit more, but as far as looking at the triple double game I would say that's just as valuable, getting everybody involved taking some of the pressure off yourself and playing the way we want them to move forward playing.”

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR

1. Don’t underestimate Chicago: If the Celtics have any ideas that Chicago will be some kind of pushover because they're shorthanded, they need to wake up. DeRozan alone will be a nightmare if they relax. This is an opportunity to come out and assert themselves. 

“Obviously you've gotta prepare for DeRozan, what he's done this year has been incredible anyway, so he's gonna take that onus on him tonight to shoulder the load even more with those guys missing,” Udoka said. “We're not in a place to worry about who is in or out. We've seen that all year. We've dealt with it ourselves, and have to come play better than we did last night regardless of who is playing for Chicago.”

2. Run! It would be nice to get out in transition and force the Bulls to run with their depleted roster and maybe even draw a few fouls. When a team is shorthanded, it’s time to use your depth and run them down. 

3. Focus: Chicago will make their runs. The Celtics need to keep their wits about them and stop these 20-something to almost nothing runs. Stop trying to isolate and get it back in one shot. Run some offense and get a good look.

GAME THREAD

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