Get a $500 Bonus on a $500 Deposit at BetUS!

Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: NBA Playoff Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

celtics-bulls-41609 The Chicago Bulls peed away any chance of avoiding the defending NBA Finals champs in the first round of the playoffs when they were blown out at home by the not playoff bound Toronto Raptors, but perhaps the Bulls knew what they were doing after all. Reports have come from Celtics head coach Doc Rivers that Kevin Garnett won’t be ready to start the playoffs and could be done of the rest of the season. Whether this is tactics or truth is yet to be determined, but the Celtics will definitely face a much tougher task of navigating the early rounds without their star. Jimmy Boyd breaks down this first round Eastern Conference playoff matchup below.

No. 2 Seed Boston Celtics +250 to win the Eastern Conference – Here’s the facts: the Celtics were 44-13 this season with Kevin Garnett in the lineup and 18-7 without him. The more glaring statistic is seen in points per game allowed. With KG in the lineup, the Celtics allowed only 90.7 points per game, and without him they gave up 98.2. The Celtics have shown that they can win without their star, but they’ve had to do it by pushing the basketball a little bit more offensively. The emergence of point guard Rajon Rondo, as a floor general and defensive pest, along with the improved play of interior guys Kendrick Perkins and Glen “Big Baby” Davis to go along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen still make the Celtics a tough out in any series. The one thing that cannot be duplicated by any other player is Garnett’s passion so KG might have to bring that to his teammates from the bench.

No. 7 Seed Chicago Bulls +4000 to win the Eastern Conference - The Bulls are young and inexperienced in terms of playoff basketball. Also, while Chicago has been a strong home team at 28-13 this season, it was only 13-28 on the road. But the Bulls were able to do something that not many other teams can claim this season, and that is beat the Celtics. The key though could be that Boston won by 16 and 18 points respectively in its two home games against the Bulls. Derrick Rose has been sensational as a rookie, but he will have his work cut out for himself against the crafty and pesky Rajon Rondo on both ends of the court. The additions of Brad Miller and John Salmons certainly have made the Bulls more competitive, but the bottom line is that Chicago just isn’t good enough defensively to get the job done in this series. The Bulls rank 21st in the NBA in scoring defense, giving up 102.5 points per game. We should see a more competitive series if Garnett indeed sits, but this Bulls team is still a couple years away in my opinion.

Prediction: Celtics in 6
The Celtics went deep into several postseason series’ in last year’s title run and the Bulls could get an added boost of confidence with KG sidelined, but home court and Boston’s solid defense gets the job done in the end. Bet the Celtics at +500 to repeat as NBA Finals Champs.

Do your NBA betting on Jimmy Boyd’s NBA picks during the 2009 NBA Playoffs for consistent winners against the basketball odds!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: