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

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

There have been loads of eyes on the Nets/Raptors matchup final season with the Nets having the identical document as Boston, however solely had a +20 level differential in comparison with Boston’s +27, which leads me to the primary massive 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 at the moment in third place with a 2-1 document and a +16 differential. The Atlanta Hawks declare the second place with a 2-1 document and a -1 differential. The explanation why Atlanta is forward of Boston with the identical document 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 document and a degree differential of +15.

This can be a must-win sport for Boston in the event that they need to advance to the knockout rounds of this competitors. Nonetheless, if Boston desires to win the group and keep away from being a wildcard crew, they might want to root for the Cavs to beat the Hawks earlier within the day. If that situation 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. Complete non-overtime factors in group play;

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

5. A random drawing.

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Lonzo/Giddey and LaVine vs. White and Vacation

Perhaps 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 harm, 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 in all probability 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 affect even when he’s on a minute restriction.

Josh Giddey is one other recognized 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 achieved properly main the Bulls offense within the halfcourt. Up 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% taking pictures.

The Bulls predominant 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 definitely be the principle defenders of Lavine out of the gates. If the 2 of them can decelerate Lavine, Boston could have an important likelihood of taking the highway win.

Each White and Vacation have been nice to begin the season on the defensive finish. On the offensive finish, nevertheless, 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 subsequent man up within the “massive 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 sport 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 sort of Jrue sport, the Celtics ought to like their possibilities of beating Chicago.

Win the rebounding battle

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

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

The Bulls then again are eleventh within the league in rebounding averaging 44.6 boards per sport. That isn’t too shocking as Chicago has the most effective 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 Photographs

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

With Porzingis solely simply returning, going in opposition to Vucevic is a troublesome matchup on each ends of the courtroom. Vucevic desires to make it a bodily sport 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 important place for rebounds whether or not it’s offensive or defensive.

Not like what the C’s did in opposition to Atlanta the place they ignored their opponent and paid for it, the Celtics must look previous the Bulls document and act as if it’s a Sport 7 if they need an opportunity at advancing.