Chicago Bulls: Takeaways From Game 2 Win Over Celtics

Another Key Contribution From Second Unit

Following a midseason trade that sent Taj Gibson and sharpshooter Doug McDermott to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Fred Hoiberg opted to play 11- and 12-man rotations.

Then, when making a push towards the playoffs became the ultimate goal, the rotation was shortened to nine players — a wise move to say the least.

Chicago Bulls

The downside to such a decision was that the younger players weren’t seeing as much playing time as they were before. Taking that into consideration, it was fair to question whether or not they would be able to produce in the postseason.

Through the first two games of this series, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes.

In Game 1, Bobby Portis scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 29 minutes of action, thus proving that he is not phased by the pressure that comes with performing at a high level in a playoff game.

Fortunately for the Bulls, that trend continued in Game 2. Only this time, it was Paul Zipser who delivered when his number was called. He finished with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-2 effort from three-point range.

While each of the starters scored in double figures, the Bulls will continue to need key contributions from their bench. As long as that continues to happen, this will be a dangerous team going forward.