Bulls take a 2-0 series lead against the Celtics: 3 takeaways

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Boston Celtics, 111-97, in Game 2 of their first round series.

The Chicago Bulls did something unthinkable; they beat the Boston Celtics two times in a row; in the playoffs. Consider the basketball world shocked. We had no idea that the Bulls were capable of this. Heck, we doubt the most diehard Bulls fans believed they would do something like this. Not even the players looked like they believed it. After the Bulls traded Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott, it appeared  it was time to lose the rest of their games and call it a day. But, Fred Hoiberg and company defied the odds and made the playoffs.

Tonight, the Celtics showed their weaknesses. The Bulls proved to everyone watching a fact that was well known — the Celtics rely too heavily on Isaiah Thomas. This game was sad to watch if you’re a Boston fan.

Here are the three major takeaways from the game:

Takeaways

The Celtics look gassed: The Celtics are fighting an uphill battle. They are now down 2-0 in a series against a confident Bulls team. Tonight, the Celtics were exposed. The Bulls started to double Isaiah Thomas off of the pick-and-roll, and the Celtics looked stunned. They acted as if no one had thought of a plan of action if Thomas would get double-teamed. The Bulls found out how to win against the Celtics and exploited it.

The Celtics have become too reliant on Isaiah Thomas and it is showing. Thomas looked gassed towards the end of the game, along with his teammates. He had to fight around screens all night and the Celtics gave little more than moral support to Thomas while he carried the game. Boston needs to take these next few days to recuperate and get in the zone because if they go down 3-0 against the Bulls, it will not be pretty.

The Bulls are confident: Here’s something that we’re not used to seeing: a confident Bulls team. It’s like finding a good NBA referee, they’re usually hiding in the darkness. Fred Hoiberg must have given one heck of a speech to fire up a withering team. Chicago looked deflated and unprepared to play the Celtics when they entered the playoffs. They were disorganized and unable to communicate with one another. All of that seems to have changed tonight. Rajon Rondo, the one you wouldn’t expect, stood up as a leader.

You read that right. Rajon Rondo, the notorious locker room hassle, was directing people and telling them what’s what in the huddle. He took on a leadership role tonight and the stats prove it. He had 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 14 assists in a very exceptional game. His 14 assists tied a Bulls playoff record. If the Chicago is confident, should Boston be scared? We don’t really know what they should be because we haven’t seen the Bulls this confident in the season before.

Yeah, the Celtics should definitely be scared.

Robin Lopez is a mad man: Al Horford cannot contain Robin Lopez. The floppy-haired Lopez was having his way the whole night and threw around Horford like he was a rag doll. Kelly Olynyk wasn’t any better against him either. Lopez had 18 points and 8 rebounds. It’s a shame that Boston can’t control Lopez because that opens up so much more opportunities for his teammates. Dwyane Wade had 22 points and Jimmy Butler had 22 as well. Lopez’s work inside draws attention from other defenders, which open up shots for others.

Next: 5 reasons the Bulls can upset the Celtics

If the Celtics want to win a game in this series, they need to find control. If they can control a game and gain momentum, they can win.