Bulls at Celtics
The Boston Celtics were a surprise No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and they set out to try to prove they're the team to beat in the playoffs when they open a best-of-seven first-round series with the visiting Chicago Bulls on Sunday. A three-game winning streak to close the regular season allowed the Celtics to gain home-court advantage throughout the East playoffs for the first time since 2008, and they feel the best is yet to come.
"We're a totally different team than we were last year and the year before," point guard Isaiah Thomas told reporters. "We have some new pieces, we're playing at a higher level and we want more. In previous year we just kind of wanted to make the playoffs and see what happened. Now we want to advance, and advance as far as possible." Thomas was the catalyst all season, finishing third in the NBA in scoring (28.9) while shooting a career-high 46.3 percent. While he will garner loads of attention in this matchup, many eyes will also focus on Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo, the electric but sometimes controversial floor general for the Celtics for nine seasons, including one (2008) as an NBA champion. "It's going to be crazy," Rondo told reporters. "(Boston's) fans are one of the best I've ever seen, especially at this time of the year. So I'm looking forward to going there and playing."
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN Chicago, CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE BULLS (41-41): Rondo came off the bench for much of the season but re-entered the starting lineup in the final month and looked - at times - to be his old self, averaging 12.5 points, 8.8 assists and 8.5 rebounds over his final six games. Veteran star Dwyane Wade returned late in the season from en elbow injury while All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler finished with career highs in scoring (23.9), rebounding (6.2) and assists (5.5), and he is excited to help slow down Thomas. "I look forward to that matchup, especially what he's done this year for that team. I know it's going to come at some point," Butler told reporters of the potential machup. "I'm going to make it tough for him. ... I'm going to get beat at times, and I'm going to need guys to be there."
ABOUT THE CELTICS (53-29): Thomas averaged 24.8 points while shooting 53.8 percent against the Bulls - his highest percentage against any Eastern Conference opponent - as Boston gained a four-game season series split. Fellow guard Avery Bradley had his best season with averages of 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds, although he missed 27 games, while center Al Horford had a dip in many statistical categories in his first season with the Celtics but brings loads of playoff experience after appearing in 74 postseason games with Atlanta. "He's been really important to my success," Thomas said of Horford. "I remember earlier in the year he told me like, 'I'm here to make things easier for you. You're gonna lead this team and I'm gonna make things as easy as possible.' He's been exactly what he said since Day 1."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wade will be playing in his 167th career playoff game and enters 11th all-time in NBA postseason scoring (3,781 points).
2.Bulls F Nikola Mirotic averaged 14.2 points while shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range after the All-Star break, compared to 9.0 on 29.9 percent before the intermission.
3. The teams last met in the playoffs in 2009, when Rondo averaged 19.4 points and 11.6 assists to help the Celtics win a first-round series in seven games.