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Celtics get their first win against Bulls: 3 takeaways from Game 3

By Noah Torr

Apr 18, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) sets a screen on Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) to help guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) sets a screen on Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) to help guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics finally won their first game in their series and trail 2-1 to the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics needed a win, and they got one. They won by a significant margin tonight; the final score was 104-87. A 17-point victory is no accident and that happened through three crucial things tonight.

Let’s take a look at the three takeaways from the game tonight, April 21.

Takeaways

Jimmy Butler was left in mediocrity: Rajon Rondo was out tonight because of a thumb injury. In fact, he could be out for the rest of series, which would be a huge loss for Chicago. With Rondo out of the game, everyone expected Butler to step up and take on a bigger role tonight in the absence of Rondo. Well, Jimmy disappointed everyone tonight.

Butler had 14 points, seven rebounds, and zero assists. He is averaging 5.5 assists per game, so for Butler to have no assists is a little bit shocking. 14 points are fine if you’re a role player. But, if you’re a potential max player, you should be consistently scoring 25+ points per night. Butler has had a few off games in the season, but tonight he was called upon to step up and take the game. He failed to do so, and as a result, the Bulls took an L.

The Boston Celtics do have a supporting cast: Do you remember guys like Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Al Horford? Just in case you forgot who they were (because of their average performance in game two), they are the supporting cast for the Celtics. Isaiah Thomas had to carry the load for the Celtics in Game 2, and that didn’t work out well. Tonight, all three helped out Thomas and won the game for the Celtics.

Brad Stevens, the head coach of the Celtics, took a risky move and started Gerald Green over Amir Johnson tonight. Green is known for being a high-motor athlete with little control over his actions. He just runs at one speed the whole game: fast. One thing that Green brings over Johnson, though, is his energy.

https://twitter.com/hofmatchup/status/852344594519937024

This man is the energizer bunny.

Obviously, it worked for the Celtics tonight. Even though he only had eight points, he made his presence felt. If the Celtics’ supporting cast brings their A-game every night, they will win the rest of the games in the series.

#WeMissRondo: Who would have ever said that they miss Rondo in the starting lineup?

Despite his rough history in the league, Rondo has been vital to the success of the Bulls in the playoffs. They felt the burden of his absence tonight when they played their three young guards: Cameron Payne, Jerian Grant, and Michael Carter-Williams. Payne is presumed to be the point guard of the future for the Bulls and the other two are destined to be backup point guards. Tonight, all three illustrated that they are not fit for a starting role yet.

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Jerian Grant started the game and scored six points with one rebound. Not too bad for 15 minutes, right? Well, Fred Hoiberg, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, felt that they needed a change of pace. So, he put Carter-Williams into the game and he scored two points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out three assists in 23 minutes. Payne played some garbage minutes and scored three points. None of those guys are fit for the starting role yet, and the team suffered as a whole. With Rondo presumably out for the remainder of the series, the Bulls might be done.

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