Boston Celtics (2) vs. Chicago Bulls (7)

Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs

We knew they’d return. The 2008 NBA championship Boston Celtic squad is back to defend their title as reigning champs for a 2nd year. Sequels are never good as the original, and a KG-less Boston Celtics might stir up enough challenges for this to be a somewhat interesting matchup between the number 2 and 7 seeds in the east. The Chicago Bulls have taken a different turn this season under new head coach Vinny Del Negro, as you’ll also recall a wildly erratic Bulls team from the previous year which has tamed down a bit after some player shuffling. The Chicago Bulls have proved that they are contenders with surprising winning streaks every now and again throughout the season. This will be a fun series to watch, because one team is in it to win it again though one of their most intense and talented players is harpooned by his regressed knee-injury, while the other team is relying on a much younger superstar to lead the way. Stay tuned to see if we’ll be seeing red or going green.

Regular Season: Boston Won 2-1

Oct. 31: at Celtics 96, Bulls 80
Dec. 19: at Celtics 105, Bulls 108
Mar. 17: at Bulls 127, Celtics 121

Starting 5

Point Guard (Rajon Rondo v Derrick Rose)

Derrick Rose who at the birth of the season had shared the draft limelight with Michael Beasley, has fit right into his hometown Bulls’ lineup as a dominant guard averaging 16 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds his debut year. Rajon Rondo has stepped up this year as an effective defender and contributor to a team which is already brimming with talent, and is familiar with his role during playoffs from his previous year’s experience. Both young guys will match up well, but Rose is clearly a monstrous force to be reckoned with.

Edge: Bulls

Shooting Guard (Ray Allen v Ben Gordon)

Ray Allen’s money-making shot has earned him the rightful title as a confident pure shooter in his career. Allen’s the go-to guy that can turn his game on and make that clutch three that will make any opponent cringe. On the red side, Ben Gordon will undoubtedly put up numbers this series considering he’s averaged 20 pts per game this season. Despite Ben Gordon’s tremendous ability to rack up points, he is no all-star, and will fall short to Ray’s shooting expertise in critical minutes of each game. With 12 pro years under his belt, Ray Allen will have the upper hand in this matchup.

Edge: Celtics

Small Forward (Paul Pierce v John Salmons)

Former 2008 NBA Finals MVP, Paul Pierce, aka the Truth, who once dubbed himself “the best player in the world” hasn’t shied away from giving that performance, averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists this season. He’s definitely still that all-around player who can work his man on both offense and defense. John Salmons is a bit underrated and may come out this series to produce some numbers. But Salmon’s got much bigger problems on his hands, trying to stop Paul Pierce from taking over.

Edge: Celtics

Power Forward (Glen Davis v Tyrus Thomas)

In Garnett’s stead, Big Baby Glen Davis will be manning the frontcourt, which means he’ll have some pretty big shoes to fill. In the remainder of the season without KG, Davis has averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game. What a step up coming from a guy whose season average is 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. Yet Tyrus Thomas who has garnered more attention for his performance this year, is a potent threat on the inside. He dominates inside on both points and boards and his sheer athleticism is what gives him the win over Davis.

Edge: Bulls

Center (Kendrick Perkins v Joakim Noah)

While Joakim Noah may put up quiet stats, Kendrick Perkins takes the cake in this matchup simply because he is a stronger center – and for that big man position, you need a big man. One questions whether Perkins’ confidence level is high enough to bolster the frontcourt. If he’s able to incorporate boards and grab a few blocks, he’ll limit Joakim’s efforts.

Edge: Celtics

The Bench

The Celtics talent goes fairly deep on their roster, as their bench put up considerable contributions throughout the season. Leon Powe has been a refreshing option for the Celtics on the inside, next to Glen Davis. New to the Celtics bench midway through the year was the addition of controversial Stephon Marbury. He surprised some by becoming an contributor to the team, reaffirming his talent and is currently a plus for the Celtics. The Bulls are also blessed with a decent bench, thanks to a trade with Sacramento, which had brought in both Salmons and Miller. Both benches have something to offer but the Bulls barely up the Celts.

Edge: Bulls

Intangibles

The C’s have already been playing the last 9 games of the regular season without Kevin Garnett, and have still won 8 of those 9 without him. Losing KG during the first round may not be as detrimental as it seems for the Celtics. Chicago will definitely need to take advantage of the fact that the Celtics will be missing their biggest inside presence.

Edge: Celtics

3 Questions

1) Will the Celtics be able to run just as strong without their powerhouse Kevin Garnett?
2) Can Derrick Rose as a rook be able to carry the Bulls past the first round?
3) Can a younger, inexperienced team toughen up enough to take down a veteran championship team?

Prediction

Although gasps of despair were heard amidst Boston fans once word got out that Doc Rivers declared Kevin Garnett would most likely miss the entire playoffs season, the Celtics Big Three minus one still leaves a threat of the Big Two, and a decently talented supporting bench to spare. But let’s not be so quick to dismiss the Bulls. The Bulls have a chance to take advantage of the Celtics missing their best defender, and if Rose can continue to penetrate the inside and the rest of the team can exercise their athleticism and physical game, the Bulls may be able to hold the Celtics off for a little bit and win a few home games. At the end of the day, the Celtics will still move on to the next round.

Celtics win 4-2