Bulls guard Rajon Rondo out for Game 6 vs. Celtics
The momentum of the Bulls-Celtics series was changed by Rajon Rondo being sidelined, and he’ll be out again in Game 6.
The No. 8 seed Chicago Bulls started their first round series against the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics with two road wins. Rajon Rondo was a major x-factor against his former team, averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game in those first two games, but heading toward Game 3 it was announced Rondo has a fractured thumb and would be out indefinitely.
Not surprisingly the Celtics have won three games in a row, as the Bulls have dropped from 109 points per game with Rondo available to 93 points per game without him in the series. Rondo has not necessarily been ruled out for the series, or any subsequent playoff games or series the Bulls might play, but he will miss his fourth straight game Friday night.
On a conference call, Fred Hoiberg said "nothing has changed" regarding Rondo, who will work out but "is a longshot" to return in series.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 27, 2017
Isaiah Canaan started Game 5 at point guard in Rondo’s place, with 13 points (6-for-11 from the floor), two rebounds and one steal over 36 minutes. Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed Canaan will start again in Game 6, with Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams coming off the bench.
Hoiberg confirms that Isaiah Canaan will start Game 6.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 27, 2017
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Rondo seemed to be trending the right direction before Game 5 on Wednesday, as he was seen shooting during practice on Tuesday. But he’s a long shot to play again in the series against Boston, as Hoiberg has consistently said. Therefore the Bulls are a similar long shot to win Game 6 at home Friday night, let alone win a Game 7 on the road and advance to the second round if it comes to that.