(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
Final: Celtics 123, Bulls 98 - Tatum dominates in blowout win
BOSTON CELTICS (21-6) at CHICAGO BULLS (13-15)
United Center, 8 p.m. - NBCS Boston
Line: Boston -12.5
INJURIES
Boston: Sam Hauser (OUT, back)
Chicago: Josh Giddy (OUT, ankle), Torrey Craig (OUT, Achilles)
THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR
1. Limit 3-pointers: The Bulls have taken 50+ 3-pointers twice so far against the Celtics. They have eliminated the math advantage Boston holds over just about every other team in the league. Maybe they're just this year’s thorn in the side of a good team (every great team has some kind of mediocre/bad nemesis), but the Celtics need to step up their defense just to send the message out there that 3-point volume isn’t always going to work.
2. Defend Nikola Vucevic: The man has become the starting center on the All-Celtics-killer team.
Let's take a break from football to talk about Nic Vucevic for a second.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) December 21, 2024
59% from the floor
48% from three (5th - NBA)
86% from the line.
No one's ever come close to those splits. Only two even got to 50/48/86...
...Tim Legler & Steve Kerr in '96 with the shorter 3-point line.
He’s not the guy to be left open. Make him put the ball on the floor out on the perimeter.
3. Jaylen Brown: He clearly wasn’t in the right head space to play his usual brand of basketball Thursday night. While it was obviously for good reason, he does need to find a way to focus if he’s going to be on the floor. This isn’t being callous, it’s just the fact of the matter. If he’s not in the right mental state to play, then he should take some personal time off, which the team will gladly grant and everyone will understand. I encourage him to do so if he needs it. However, if he chooses to be on the floor, then he needs to find his focus and play like Jaylen Brown.
Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.