NBA playoffs: Bulls at Celtics, Game 2 (Chicago leads 1-0)
The biggest upset of the opening games of the NBA playoffs certainly came in Boston on Saturday afternoon when Derrick Rose put on arguably the best playoff performance by a rookie ever. Yes, ever.
It certainly might have been the best performance by a rookie in his first-ever playoff game, as Rose had 36 points and 11 assists in leading the Chicago Bulls to a shocking 105-103 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics. That was seventh-seeded Chicago’s first-ever win over the storied Celtics in a playoff game.
“I was just doing anything to win — diving, fouling people, whatever it takes,” Rose said.
Rose’s 36 points tied an NBA record for most points by a rookie in his playoff debut — Lew Alcindor scored 36 in 1970 — so you know the Celtics will be focused on shutting down, or at least containing, Rose in Game 2 tonight. In fact, the Bulls expect more full-court pressure and trapping of Rose.
They also know they must limit Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo’s penetration – Rondo was nearly as good as Rose was. And the Bulls can’t count on Ray Allen shooting 1-for-12 again. Boston has opened as an 8.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com with an over/under of 197.
“We have to play with intensity and match the physicality of their big guys up front,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We did a good job on Ray [Allen], but he’s going to come out aggressive, and I expect him to knock shots down. Rondo hurt us a lot. They’re one free throw away from winning the game. You have to keep working.”
Allen will continue to be a focal point of the Celtics’ offense and the Bulls’ defense tonight.
“Regardless of the way Ray played or the way he shot the ball, we’re going to continue to get Ray open – our job is to get him open,” Celtics captain Paul Pierce said. “He’s one of the deadliest shooters to ever play the game, so we’ve got to do a better job of getting him open.”
The Celtics likely will be physical early to try to take control.
”They tried to do that in the first game, too,” Bulls center Joakim Noah said; Noah had 17 rebounds in Game 1. ”But it was important in the first game to show that we weren’t going to back down.”
Monday is also the anniversary of a memorable Bulls-Celtics game: On this date in 1986, Michael Jordan dropped a playoff-record 63 points on the Celtics at the old Boston Garden.
WagerWeb.com Trends
* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
* Favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
* Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Bulls are 2-7 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
* Bulls are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
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