5 reasons the Chicago Bulls can upset the Boston Celtics

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) is surrounded by Chicago Bulls including forward Bobby Portis (5) and guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls 106-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) is surrounded by Chicago Bulls including forward Bobby Portis (5) and guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls 106-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Jimmy Butler is the best player in this series

When evaluating the level of play in NBA players, postseason success is weighted heavier than it is for other major sports. This is because one great player on a basketball court with nine others can have more of an impact over 100 possessions than any player really can in another sport. The impact one great player can have on a series can be seen in last year’s Finals. The Warriors won 73 games and carried a 3-1 lead in the Finals against LeBron and the Cavs. You know the rest…

Isaiah Thomas continues to defy the expectations others set for him. Once the last pick in the draft, he stands an outside chance at finishing top-five in MVP voting during a particularly competitive season. He is the engine of the Celtics offense and averages more points than Jimmy Butler, but he is not a better player. The way Butler affects the game on both ends of the court gives him the edge over Boston’s floor general.

Next: In the NBA Playoffs, the best player always has a chance

Jimmy Butler averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals this season, with 23.9, 6.2, 5.5, and 1.9 respectively. He did all of this while not allowing his All-Defense caliber play to slip too far. Butler kept Chicago afloat during Dwyane Wade’s absence and despite usually lacking a consistent second or third scorer. In all likelihood, the Bulls would have struggled to win 20 games without Butler this season. Having the best player on the court matters more in the playoffs, and it is an edge that Chicago possesses.