Chicago Bulls: What To Watch For In Playoff Series Vs. Celtics

The 8-seeded Chicago Bulls will take on the 1-seeded Boston Celtics in the opening round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Here are a few things to watch for.

The Chicago Bulls did not have a great 2016-17 season by any stretch of the imagination. From unexpected wins against some of the best teams in the league, to head-scratching losses to the lower-tiered squads, it was difficult for Bulls fans to predict which version of their team would take the court on any given night.

Despite their up-and-down season, though, the Bulls needed to win their final two games in order to snag a playoff berth, and win they did. Against the Orlando Magic, the Bulls led wire-to-wire in a 122-75 victory.

A few nights later against a Brooklyn Nets team that rested six players, the Bulls defeated the Nets 112-73 to capture the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. With that pair of wins, not only did the Bulls make it to the playoffs in Fred Hoiberg’s second season, this will also mark their eighth playoff appearance in nine years.

Their reward for sneaking into the postseason is a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Boston Celtics. These two teams went 2-2 against each other during the regular season, with each ball club winning each game on their home court.

Of course, being that the lights shine a bit brighter in a playoff series, what happens during the regular season often goes by the wayside depending on the two teams facing each other.

So without further delay, here are a few trends to keep a close eye on in what will be an interesting series between the Bulls and Celtics.