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Eastern Conference playoffs preview – Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls

By Derek Peterson

Nov 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) and Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the fourth quarter at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) and Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the fourth quarter at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Bulls and Celtics are set for a first round clash in the NBA playoffs. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The Bulls and Celtics are set for a first round clash in the NBA playoffs. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

As the 2017 NBA Playoffs get set to begin, the top-seeded Boston Celtics hope to make quick work of No. 8 seed Chicago in the opening round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Season series: Tied 2-2

Chicago beat the Celtics at the United Center on the NBA’s opening night largely thanks to a stellar debut from Dwyane Wade. Boston won by seven a week later and the two split the final two games. The Celtics have the most recent win, a 20-point drubbing in which Jimmy Butler was held to just five points.

Celtics’ projected starters:

Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas (5-foot-9, 185 pounds)

Shooting Guard: Avery Bradley (6-foot-2, 180 pounds)

Small Forward: Jae Crowder (6-foot-6, 235 pounds)

Power Forward: Amir Johnson (6-foot-9, 240 pounds)

Center: Al Horford (6-foot-10, 245 pounds)

Key reserves: PG Marcus Smart, SF Jaylen Brown, C Kelly Olynyk

Bulls’ projected starters:

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo (6-foot-1, 186 pounds)

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade (6-foot-4, 220 pounds)

Small Forward: Jimmy Butler (6-foot-7, 220 pounds)

Power Forward: Nikola Mirotic (6-foot-10, 220 pounds)

Center: Robin Lopez (7-foot-0, 255 pounds)

Key reserves: SF Paul Zipser, PF Bobby Portis, PG Jerian Grant, C Cristiano Felicio

Last Playoff meeting:

These two haven’t met in the postseason in almost a decade. During the 2008-09 Playoffs, Chicago, the seven-seed, met No. 2 seed Boston in the first round. Neither team won consecutive games all series long and the Celtics eventually prevailed in seven. Bulls starting point guard Rajon Rondo started for that Celtics team.

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