Three issues to be careful for Boston Celtics in opposition to the Chicago Bulls NBA Cup

The Boston Celtics are again in tonight after they journey to Chicago for the final recreation of the NBA Cup Group Stage. Final yr, the Celtics received their group with a 3-1 file — the lone loss coming to Orlando. With the scoring format, each margin of victory issues and final season we noticed Joe Mazzulla have his workforce deliberately foul Andre Drummond to extend their scoring margin in opposition to the Bulls.

There have been a variety of eyes on the Nets/Raptors matchup final season with the Nets having the identical file as Boston, however solely had a +20 level differential in comparison with Boston’s +27, which leads me to the primary large factor:

Celtics can clinch if:

The Celtics don’t essentially management their very own future. A very powerful factor Boston can do is win. They’re presently in third place with a 2-1 file and a +16 differential. The Atlanta Hawks declare the second place with a 2-1 file and a -1 differential. The explanation why Atlanta is forward of Boston with the identical file and a worse differential is as a result of the Hawks beat the Celtics earlier in November, so that they personal the head-to-head matchup if the groups are tied. Then it’s the Chicago Bulls who lead Group C with a 2-1 file and some extent differential of +15.

It is a must-win recreation for Boston in the event that they need to advance to the knockout rounds of this competitors. Nevertheless, if Boston needs to win the group and keep away from being a wildcard workforce, they might want to root for the Cavs to beat the Hawks earlier within the day. If that state of affairs pans out (Celtics win + Hawks loss), the Celtics will clinch the group and advance to the knockout phases.

The order of tiebreakers is as follows:

1. Head-to-head in group play;

2. Non-overtime level differential in group play;

3. Whole non-overtime factors in group play;

4. 2023-24 regular-season file and eventually;

5. A random drawing.

Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures

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Lonzo/Giddey and LaVine vs. White and Vacation

Possibly it’s as a result of I’m nonetheless a Lonzo Ball believer, however this matchup might be the distinction between the Celtics simply dealing with the Bulls and it being a nail-biter. Though Ball has solely simply returned from one other damage, he makes the offense circulation extra effectively when he’s on the ground.

In opposition to the Magic, Lonzo solely performed quarter-hour and posted six factors and three assists within the loss. The Bulls will most likely ease Ball again into the swing of issues, so I don’t anticipate him to play greater than 20-25 minutes in opposition to Boston, however he could make an influence even when he’s on a minute restriction.

Josh Giddey is one other identified facilitator. The previous OKC Thunder participant has adjusted properly to Chicago after being traded. Giddey is averaging a team-best 6.6 assists and has accomplished properly main the Bulls offense within the halfcourt. Prior to now, Giddey has performed properly in opposition to Boston. Within the 5 video games he confronted the Celtics, he averaged 19.2 factors, 6.8 rebounds, and 4 assists, on 51.4% capturing.

The Bulls fundamental risk is Zach LaVine. Generally underrated by different followers, however he’s an elite scorer. This season he’s averaging 22.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and three.9 assists on an environment friendly 51.6% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc.

Us Boston followers are extraordinarily lucky to have two elite defenders in Jrue Vacation and Derrick White who will most probably be the principle defenders of Lavine out of the gates. If the 2 of them can decelerate Lavine, Boston could have an excellent probability of taking the street win.

Each White and Vacation have been nice to start out the season on the defensive finish. On the offensive finish, nonetheless, it’s been White who has been shining probably the most. He’s taken the step up with Kristaps Porzingis out and arguably solidified himself as the following man up within the “large 3” desk with Brown and Tatum.

There have been video games final season the place Jrue Vacation couldn’t miss, however there hasn’t been a recreation the place Jrue was unguardable on offensive but. I’m simply ready for him to have a kind of video games the place he’s phenomenal on each ends of the ground. If we will get that kind of Jrue recreation, the Celtics ought to like their possibilities of beating Chicago.

Win the rebounding battle

If I used to be a coach, I might stress this level each single recreation. You win the rebounding battle, and also you give your self a greater alternative to win. If you restrict the opposition to 1 shot per possession, you improve your possibilities of profitable.

The Boston Celtics are within the backside half in workforce rebounding with simply 42.8 rebounds per recreation. This stat is a bit deceptive as a result of though you will not be rebounding workforce, it may additionally imply your workforce makes extra pictures than most groups so there are fewer possibilities of getting rebounds.

The Bulls however are eleventh within the league in rebounding averaging 44.6 boards per recreation. That isn’t too shocking as Chicago has top-of-the-line rebounding bigs within the league in Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic is averaging shut to twenty factors and 10 rebounds per contest and he’s a handful within the paint. Though he can now shoot it from the perimeter (44.9% from deep), the Montenegrin does most of his work within the paint.

Photograph by Quinn Harris/Getty Pictures

Tatum and Brown this season have accomplished a greater job chipping in with rebounds with JT averaging 8.2 rebounds which is his second most ever in his profession. Brown can also be averaging the second most rebounds per recreation in his profession with 6.6.

With Porzingis solely simply returning, going in opposition to Vucevic is a tricky matchup on each ends of the court docket. Vucevic needs to make it a bodily recreation when he has the ball within the put up and on protection he strikes fairly properly for his dimension and is at all times in an excellent place for rebounds whether or not it’s offensive or defensive.

In contrast to what the C’s did in opposition to Atlanta the place they neglected their opponent and paid for it, the Celtics must look previous the Bulls file and act as if it’s a Recreation 7 if they need an opportunity at advancing.