1st Rd: [1] Boston Celtics vs [8] Chicago Bulls

[spursistan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9RF291XgAA8WSc.jpg:large

[Robz4000]

This has long series written all over it. Can see Bulls in 6 or Celtics in 7.

[ElNono]

Boston in 5...

[apalisoc_9]

Boston in 7

[spursistan]

Deuce : sticky the series thread please..

[spursistan]

Boston in 7..

[D-Wade]

I can usually trust in playoff Wade, but usually he starts turning it on in March. Instead, he was sidelined. Celtics in 6.

[lefty]

Chicago in 6

[spursistan]

* schedule posted above.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I don't want lebronies to get hca throughout... Please let it be Bos in 6 or less

[Venti Quattro]

This has long series written all over it. Can see Bulls in 6 or Celtics in 7.

I wanna see at least 10 overtime periods in this series. I want to see a rehash of the 2009 playoff series

[pookenstein]

Bulls in 6.

[Chillen]

This is strange because I have never feared a 1 seeded team less, Bulls have a chance to make history and knock off the Celtics. This Boston team will have to earn my respect by knocking the Bulls off, right now as a Bulls/Spurs fan I feel good about the Bulls chances to advance and be one of those rare 8th seeded teams that knocks off a 1 seed. If your a Celtics fan your probably thinking we get the 1 seed and we have to play the Bulls with Butler, Wade, Rondo, Lopez = potential nightmare. This will be an interesting series because the Bulls should have been a higher seed with all that talent and the Celtics with Brad Stevens great coaching had a solid regular season to secure the 1 seed. The good news for the Celtics is the Bulls have Fred Hoiberg as the head coach.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Isaiah's sister died from tragic car accident today. I still think the Celtics wins the series but their journey probably ends in the second round IMO.


Lebron with a cake walk to the Finals.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Isaiah's sister died from tragic car accident today. I still think the Celtics wins the series but their journey probably ends in the second round IMO.


Lebron with a cake walk to the Finals.
Don't count out Milwaukee, they came out of nowhere second half of the season and they're very talented. They could beat CLE in round 2.

[Spurtacular]

Celtics in 7. Home team wins every game.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Don't count out Milwaukee, they came out of nowhere second half of the season and they're very talented. They could beat CLE in round 2.

Yeah, I underestimated them tbh.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Yeah, I underestimated them tbh.

They were like 12th place in the east in January.

[StrengthAndHonor]

They were like 12th place in the east in January.
+'the Raptors absolutely suck lol.

[Splits]

Who names their fucking kid "Chyna"?


Chyna Thomas, sister of Celtics' Isaiah Thomas, dies in car crash (http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19167406/isaiah-thomas-sister-chyna-thomas-killed-one-car-accident)


The sister of Boston Celtics (http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) star Isaiah Thomas (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6472/isaiah-thomas) was killed in a one-car accident early Saturday morning, according to Washington State police.

Chyna Thomas, 22, died at the scene of the accident on Interstate 5 in Federal Way, Washington, police said.

A source told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that Isaiah Thomas received news of his sister's accident after he participated in Celtics practice in the afternoon.

Thomas was talking to a reporter after practice when Avery Bradley (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4240/avery-bradley), a fellow Tacoma native, emerged from the trainer's room and pulled him away. Thomas never returned to engage in other scheduled media requests.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Who names their fucking kid "Chyna"?

The same ones who elected Obama and eat fried chicken and 'melon every Sunday.

[LkrFan]

TOSWADE! :lol

[LkrFan]

The same ones who elected Obama and eat fried chicken and 'melon every Sunday.

:lmao

[LkrFan]

Wade is a happy headed negro! :lol

[sasaint]

Don't count out Milwaukee, they came out of nowhere second half of the season and they're very talented. They could beat CLE in round 2.

With their length and athleticism, Milwaukee can cause problems for anybody. Due to be injuries and new faces, the Bucks haven't played together as much as the other playoff teams. They are gathering momentum at just the right time.

[Splits]

853757572842754050

[Clipper Nation]

Isaiah is literally Harden Jr. The calls he's been getting, even in the playoffs, are absurd.

[Robz4000]

Even despite everything being in their favor tonight the Celtics are still on the precipice of losing. Bulls can definitely win this series.

[Robz4000]

:lol just think Ainge, you could've had Butler on your team if you were willing to move det pick. Now you might be knocked out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion by him.

[Killakobe81]

Celtics tears except IT3's taste as sweet as Pecan pie ...
Next big hope is they fall out of top 3 in draft
Buck Foston

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Bobby Portis shitting on that cute little regular-season team

[Robz4000]

:lmao that call

[Splits]

Celtics tears except IT3's taste as sweet as Pecan pie ...
Next big hope is they fall out of top 3 in draft
Buck Foston

Boston is a 1-seed getting a top-4 pick in one of the most loaded drafts in recent memory.

LA improved 9 wins by finally putting their cancer in remission but has no playoff hopes, and is going to lose 2 of their next 3 1st round picks.

Who'd you rather be?

Bos: 17
LA: 11

[Robz4000]

NBA doing all it can to help Boston...

[Killakobe81]

Bulls choke?

[Robz4000]

If they do choke it could break the Bulls' backs already.

[Clipper Nation]

:lmao This blatant rigjob

[Robz4000]

Game.

[timtonymanu]

Rofl what's that loser bill Simmons going to say after the game

[Clipper Nation]

Rofl what's that loser bill Simmons going to say after the game
:lol That faggot will probably find a way to blame the refs, even though this game was blatantly rigged for the Celtics.

[spursistan]

Celtics woes shows you once again how hard it is to win in the playoffs without a legit Top 10 player/superstar no matter how good your system is..This is why that 2014 Spurs title is a one of the greatest championship runs ever: While a 38 yo Timmy, through his overall impact, was able to elevate his level to be that type of player it was never a game-in, game-out thing (same with Ginobili/Parker/Kawhi at different rounds)..

The Bulls have the best player in the series who has been Top 7-10 this season, and for that they should like their chances at the upset..

[SPURt]

Poor Thomas. That's two tragic car wrecks one day apart.

[Venti Quattro]

We knew this was gonna happen as soon as Boston faced the first decent big man... And the Bulls have fucking ROLO and Felicio

[spursistan]

853789418750189569

[Venti Quattro]

853789418750189569

They omitted the part where The Bulls outrebounded Boston, 53-36

[timtonymanu]

I had Celtics in 7 cause I don't buy them either and I guess choosing them to beat Chicago in this series might have been too optimistic. But we will see. I agree that Butler is the best player in this series so Chicago has a high ceiling because of him.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Isaiah is literally Harden Jr. The calls he's been getting, even in the playoffs, are absurd.

Sympathy calls. If Kawhi had a sister I'd sacrifice her if it meant he'd get all the calls and win us a ship one year.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I had Celtics in 7 cause I don't buy them either and I guess choosing them to beat Chicago in this series might have been too optimistic. But we will see. I agree that Butler is the best player in this series so Chicago has a high ceiling because of him.

Celtics in 7 is still a good prediction, as good as anyone's. All we know is this won't be one of those boring ass "favorite wins in 4-5" series.

[Clipper Nation]

Sympathy calls.

It's definitely not "sympathy calls," because he's been getting them all season.

[apalisoc_9]

Since the bulls are most likely going to outrebound the Celtics the whole series, they need up the pace and shoot quicker. Can't play the same way.

Horford sucks big time. Another PG getting exposed. The league has awarded the MVP to PGs the last three years, and all regular season they hog the headlines..

But when are these people going to learn?

[Robz4000]

Boston continuing to have huge trouble with Chicago on the boards. If they don't figure something out Chicago might run away with the series.

[D-Wade]

D Wade shaking off that rust slowly but surely... if the Bulls can steal this one too :wow

[Robz4000]

Mirotic going in raw

[Robz4000]

:lmao Rondo and Mirotic destroying Boston

[rasuo214]

Has the 8th seed ever swept the 1st seed?

[Robz4000]

Forget Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley might be Boston's best player. Undressed Butler on both ends.

[Robz4000]

Refs starting to go HAM for Boston.

[D-Wade]

Shitty officiating and Bulls still on top :lol

[apalisoc_9]

Can we stop praising and handing out Free awards to PGs please. They obvipusly can't affect the game as much as bigs and wings.

Last 6 MVPs...Half of them are PG. :lmao

[D-Wade]

Rondo :wow

[Robz4000]

Celtics look like children playing against the Bulls. That Rondo-Butler sequence pretty much sums up this series.

[Robz4000]

Mirotic started off strong but man he's really hurting Chicago now.

[Robz4000]

Rondo is going in on the Celtics. Actually looks like a good PG this series.

[D-Wade]

Looking like Brook Lopez out there

[Robz4000]

Always liked Robin Lopez tbh. Better than his brother at any rate.

[spursistan]

Bulls look like the better team and should win this series :lol..Amazing how playoff basketball is different from reg season: Star power + Size matter..

[spursistan]

:lmao Ainge not making any fuckin deals to address their shitty rebounding..

[spursistan]

Hoiberg should leave Butler in for the rest of half..Just go for the kill..

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Celtics getting cucked by their Bulls

[Leetonidas]

Lmao Celtics are gonna get 8.’d

[spursistan]

MCW with a dumb play that could prove the game later on...4 point swing..

[Robz4000]

:lmao Ainge

[Robz4000]

Refs really pulling for the Celtics.

[spursistan]

Hoiberg should leave Butler in for the rest of half..Just go for the kill..
:tu

[Clipper Nation]

Remember when idiots bashed Hinkie for trading this scrub MCW?

[D-Wade]

Flash time

[Robz4000]

:lmao Celtics gonna get swept as the one seed. This will be the most embarrassing playoff exit of all time.

[Arcadian]

They need Horford to provide some offense

[Robz4000]

Wade going holocaust on the Celtics

[unleashbaynes]

God damn. The Bulls are raping this fraud.

[spursistan]

If Bulls win the series Butler is definitely not getting traded, and if he does, Celtics have to sell the farm for him..
.
At this point PG --who could be a rental for one year before he bolts to LA-- is the only star option they have in the summer unless they think Hayward is the guy..:lol

[apalisoc_9]

So next year, are we going to hand out free MVPs again to Point Guards?

But he's under 6'5...It so good watching the smaller guys play..i feel like its me in the court. :cry

[spursistan]

Also, putting Brad Stevens in the same tier with Pop/Carlisle :lmao..

[spursistan]

Probably the worst Top seed ever of any conference..

[Robz4000]

Also, putting Brad Stevens in the same tier with Pop/Carlisle :lmao..

Not Stevens' fault this Celtics team is chock full of role players and fake stars. Give him a legit star like Butler and they could've somewhat challenged the Cavs. This impending sweep is thanks to Ainge.

[Mr. Body]

Al Horford looks pathetic as the only guy with size trying to rebound for the Celtics.

[Robz4000]

Love this Zipser kid. Never saw him before tonight.

[timtonymanu]

Well no one was surprised Celtics melted down like this. Definition of regular season team all year. And have overtaken the Raptors in that category.

[Mr. Body]

Probably the worst Top seed ever of any conference..

Not their fault really. They're a four or five seed, the rest of the conference just sucks.

[FkLA]

IT is a 91% FT shooter and shot 7-13 from the line today according to the box score.

Didn't really watch the game. Is his sister's death noticeably affecting his play?

[Arcadian]

:lol This is the team that overtook the defending champions in the standings
:lol East...faggots

[spursistan]

Not Stevens' fault this Celtics team is chock full of role players and fake stars. Give him a legit star like Butler and they could've somewhat challenged the Cavs. This impending sweep is thanks to Ainge.
Nah..there was a quite premature ejacuation over dude who won a measly 2 playoffs games..ESPN ranked him above RC recently..

[Silver&Black]

Nobody picked Bulls in 4. Guess we're all wrong...

[Robz4000]

IT is a 91% FT shooter and shot 7-13 from the line today according to the box score.

Didn't really watch the game. Is his sister's death noticeably affecting his play?

Nope, just your typical 5'11" PG getting his shit pushed in by defenders half a foot taller. The rest of his team is mediocre too.

:rollin Ainge about to get swept by the player he refused to trade for

[140]

:lol East...faggots
:lol

[sasaint]

:lmao Ainge

He should get canned. The draft picks he stubbornly wasted instead of swinging some deals... :lol

[Robz4000]

Nah..there was a quite premature ejacuation over dude who won a measly 2 playoffs games..ESPN ranked him above RC recently..

Stevens actually winning two playoff games with this team is a testament to his prowess. I mean, if you take IT off it this team shouldn't win 25 games.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

:lol This is the team that overtook the defending champions in the standings
:lol East...faggots
I think Cleveland tanked to get away from the Bulls.

[Clipper Nation]

I think Cleveland tanked to get away from the Bulls.

:lol Why would the Cavs be scared of playing the Bulls? The Bulls are punking the Celtics right now because Boston's first option on offense is a midget who turns into Jamal Crawford in the playoffs every year and they have soft bigs who can't rebound. Cleveland doesn't have any of those problems.

[DPG21920]

How did BOS get the 1 seed? I mean, they play hard, but man, they struggle against gameplanning.

[Robz4000]

I think Cleveland tanked to get away from the Bulls.

They couldn't of known they'd see the Bulls in the first round as the one seed until the final game of the year. Cavs just got lucky to draw the Pacers.

[Raven]

IT is a 91% FT shooter and shot 7-13 from the line today according to the box score.

Didn't really watch the game. Is his sister's death noticeably affecting his play?

nah, just rondo playing with a purpose.

[Robz4000]

How did BOS get the 1 seed? I mean, they play hard, but man, they struggle against gameplanning.

It's exactly as you said: gameplanning. There's none of that in the regular season.

[spursistan]

Before making a push for Butler/PG, Celtics first move in the summer should be shopping Horford for a legit rebouding/bruising center...

[TheGreatYacht]

Could've had Jimmy and PG13 but drafted busts instead.

B:lolston
:lol White American Centers

[Arcadian]

Man, what a shame that the East can't produce a single team capable of challenging the Cavs even when they're having a relatively weak season. In a competent conference, this Cavs team would be under serious threat, but the faggoty East lets them off the hook again.

I always say, just cancel the god damn East playoffs. Fucking waste of time.

[Splits]

854520967447683072

[ViceCity86]

Past East #1 seeds

2001 76ers and 2002 Nets look like world beaters compared to 2017 Celtics. :lol

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Man, what a shame that the East can't produce a single team capable of challenging the Cavs even when they're having a relatively weak season. In a competent conference, this Cavs team would be under serious threat, but the faggoty East lets them off the hook again.

I always say, just cancel the god damn East playoffs. Fucking waste of time.
I think the Bucks and Bulls have a chance to beat CLE in the playoffs this year, assuming they advance far enough. The rest of the teams out east are just choking pretenders. Nobody trusts the wizards, craptors or any Atlanta sports franchise when it matters tbh.

[D-Wade]

Rondo out indefinitely with fractured thumb :wow

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19209575/rajon-rondo-chicago-bulls-indefinitely-broken-thumb?sf72137098=1

[lefty]

Past East #1 seeds

2001 76ers and 2002 Nets look like world beaters compared to 2017 Celtics. :lol

:lol today's NBA

[Spurs9]

Rondo out indefinitely with fractured thumb :wow

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19209575/rajon-rondo-chicago-bulls-indefinitely-broken-thumb?sf72137098=1

:depressed

[Robz4000]

Rondo out indefinitely with fractured thumb :wow

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19209575/rajon-rondo-chicago-bulls-indefinitely-broken-thumb?sf72137098=1

Well shit, that could completely change the series.

[D-Wade]

Bad start for the Bulls in Rondo's absence but Wade + the bench bringing them back

[Robz4000]

:lol Boston having their own choke job

[Robz4000]

Butler needs to stop shitting down his leg.

[D-Wade]

What a fucking block by Three

[spursistan]

It is going to be so Bulls if they get backdoor swept after winning the first two on the road..

That Rondo injury was a killer..Need Butler to go full Harden as defacto PG and handle the ball and playmake on every possession..

[spursistan]

Bulls much better in second half..Feels like this game is the series for both teams..

[Robz4000]

No Rondo = no more wins for the Bulls

[spursistan]

Outside those few shots in 4th Q of Game 2, Wade has looked way more washed up than Tony Parker these playoffs..

[D-Wade]

Outside those few shots in 4th Q of Game 2, Wade has looked way more washed up than Tony Parker these playoffs..

Indeed

[DD]

Hoiberg is 100% correct tbh

[Boston Pancake]

Lookit, fucksticks, the Boston Fahkin Celtics are reverse sweeping these fahkin cahksuckahs from Chicago. We have fahkin Bill Russell and Larry Fahkin Legend on our side, there is no way we lose in disgrace to the 8 seed. The King Of The Fourth, Isaiah Fahkin Thomas will go wicked hahd in the paint as he rams his little 5'9" fist right up Jimmy Butler's pooper.

[pookenstein]

Celtics in 7. Home team wins every game.

Good call so far.

[D-Wade]

Wade is in 2014 finals mode. Disgraceful right now

[spursistan]

857406262518185985

[D-Wade]

Cs with 25 3PA in the first half... 6 makes

[313]

Hoiberg is 100% correct tbh
every perimeter player travels

[spurraider21]

can we just make this series a best of 5. nobody wants to watch 2 more games of this shit

[Arcadian]

can we just make this series a best of 5. nobody wants to watch 2 more games of this shit

While we're at it, let's just cancel the entire EC playoffs. Whole thing is a waste of time.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

While we're at it, let's just cancel the entire EC playoffs. Whole thing is a waste of time.

Agreed. It should just be a coin toss to determine the winners of each series, with the final winner going up against the West in June

[lefty]

Agreed. It should just be a coin toss to determine the winners of each series, with the final winner going up against the West in June

The Knicks would have liked those odds

[D-Wade]

Jimmy Butler, much like Paul George, is proving to not have a superstar bone in his body.

Wade was pretty shitty too, despite the gaudy numbers

[apalisoc_9]

can we just make this series a best of 5. nobody wants to watch 2 more games of this shit

:lol...

I don't think even the Wizards vs Celtics is a popular series.

All the good teams and Household stars are in the west except for Lebron and Kyrie. :lol

One of Kawhi, Westbrook, Curry, Durant needs to move to the east to make it appealing. I'm not sure if Harden is appealing. He doesn't seem to score as well as the other four guys mentioned.

Or Davis..Davis is the other popular household name.

[spurraider21]

:lol...

I don't think even the Wizards vs Celtics is a popular series.

All the good teams and Household stars are in the west except for Lebron and Kyrie. :lol

One of Kawhi, Westbrook, Curry, Durant needs to move to the east to make it appealing. I'm not sure if Harden is appealing. He doesn't seem to score as well as the other four guys mentioned.

Or Davis..Davis is the other popular household name.you mean you're not looking forward to game 6 of atlanta vs washington!!??!??

[Splits]

:lol L:lolkers

Boston: 17
LA: 11

[Chillen]

857406262518185985

That is such awful, awful defense and I would not be surprised if Celtics win game 6 in Chicago. Hoping it goes to a game 7 but this Bulls team after starting the series good the wheel has totally fallen off. They have to try and win game 6, losing all home games would be just handing this series to the Celtics.

[LkrFan]

857592961101688832

Stay classy, Beant:lolwn

[Splits]

857592961101688832

Stay classy, Beant:lolwn

Boston:17
LA: 11

[140]

you mean you're not looking forward to game 6 of atlanta vs washington!!??!??
:lol I am tbh

[StrengthAndHonor]

can we just make this series a best of 5. nobody wants to watch 2 more games of this shit

Yeah, unlikely but 1st round should be a best of 3, even best of 5 is overkill. How often do we see upsets. I think best of 7 should be reserved for the conference and NBA finals.

[Arcadian]

Yeah, unlikely but 1st round should be a best of 3, even best of 5 is overkill. How often do we see upsets. I think best of 7 should be reserved for the conference and NBA finals.

If it were best of 3, the Mavs would have beat the Spurs in '14... :(

[apalisoc_9]

If it were best of 3, the Mavs would have beat the Spurs in '14... :(

Longer series protect superior teams.

I don't have the stats, but I'm sure the shorter format has caused significantly more upsets.

[Arcadian]

Longer series protect superior teams.

I don't have the stats, but I'm sure the shorter format has caused significantly more upsets.

Makes sense. Smaller sample size = more influence of randomness.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Longer series protect superior teams.

I don't have the stats, but I'm sure the shorter format has caused significantly more upsets.

two 1-8 upsets in 5 game format, three in 7 game format, roughly equal time between two.. so not necessarily

[spursistan]

Jimmy Butler, much like Paul George, is proving to not have a superstar bone in his body.

Wade was pretty shitty too, despite the gaudy numbers

Looks like he has a knee issues, but yeah, he's disappeared as the series went along-- not the stuff of "superstars"..

https://d2s3dt9f4iyeup.cloudfront.net/images/standard_v1/4b894299-1cf4-4ef9-90e2-09e47205bee3.png

[Hoops Czar]

:lol...

I don't think even the Wizards vs Celtics is a popular series.

All the good teams and Household stars are in the west except for Lebron and Kyrie. :lol

One of Kawhi, Westbrook, Curry, Durant needs to move to the east to make it appealing. I'm not sure if Harden is appealing. He doesn't seem to score as well as the other four guys mentioned.

Or Davis..Davis is the other popular household name.

:lmao

[apalisoc_9]

:lmao

Laugh all you want, but kyrie is one of the 6 most popular players in the nba. More popular than Harden. He's a household star. The second most popular player in the east behind Lebron

Even when Lebron was withthe heat.

[Hoops Czar]

Laugh all you want, but kyrie is one of the 6 most popular players in the nba. More popular than Harden. He's a household star. The second most popular player in the east behind Lebron

Even when Lebron was withthe heat.

I agree he's a household name but not a household star. He couldn't even get the Cavs into the playoffs in the so-called terrible, terrible east without Lebron holding his hand. He's all flash and no substance, a sheep in wolfs' clothing if you will. He's the Eastern Conference version of Russell Westbrook light. But I suppose popularity in the NBA doesn't have anything to do with talent especially when Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose are still in the top 15 in merchandise sales. :lol

[Spurtacular]

Good call so far.

That's why I was in a betting slump for about 4 or 5 weeks, too. I had more than one parlay in which I picked every result wrong.

[spursistan]

Deuce unpin.

[spursistan]

Bulls gotta trade Butler and embrace rebuild..they are going nowhere..

[Cry Havoc]

After this series I hope Mark Jackson never works in sports again. I don't think I've ever hated a sports personality so much. My god he is the worst thing I've ever heard on an NBA broadcast.

[Chillen]

Damn this sucks, what a way to implode guys after being up in the series 2-0. They just lost 4 straight games, so embarrassing. Not sure if they should trade Jimmy and blow it up but they clearly need better shooters and defenders. I'll let the brilliant minds running this franchise figure it out (no pun intended of course).

[pookenstein]

That's why I was in a betting slump for about 4 or 5 weeks, too. I had more than one parlay in which I picked every result wrong.

Been there.It happens...

[Mr. Body]

After this series I hope Mark Jackson never works in sports again. I don't think I've ever hated a sports personality so much. My god he is the worst thing I've ever heard on an NBA broadcast.

Reggie Miller is pretty fucking bad. What's with the old Pacers choads?

[IronMexican]

:lol L:lolkers

Boston: 17
LA: 11

:lmao any fan caring about a trophy before they were born

[Cry Havoc]

Reggie Miller is pretty fucking bad. What's with the old Pacers choads?

Reggie is annoying and biased af but at least he doesn't try to make Internet memes during a fucking playoff game.

[resistanze]

Wiz :lol

[IronMexican]

If the wiz don't come back and win this, series over.

Caves are gonna make easy work of C's