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2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 12: Boston’s Bargain Bradley, Wall Gets Help And Super Schroder Strikes Again

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) goes to the basket past Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) goes to the basket past Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
Apr 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) goes to the basket past Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Bargain Bin Bradley

The Boston Celtics‘ offense had been at a severe disadvantage whenever Isaiah Thomas sat, as had been the overwhelming case during the regular season. But in Game 5 Wednesday night, it was one of Brad Stevens’ go-to defenders who carried the load on both ends of the floor.

In a series where the home team had lost every game, on a night where IT went 6-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from deep, it was Avery “Bargain Bin” Bradley who bottled up Butler for Boston and bombed the Bulls with buckets, boosting Beantown to a 3-2 bulge.

Alliteration aside, Bradley was the hero for the Celtics in Game 5. On the offensive end, he finally had his breakout performance after averaging just 12.3 points per game on 38.3 percent shooting through the first four games of the series.

He finished with a playoff career-high 24 points and six boards on 11-of-19 shooting, drilling two of his five three-pointers. He carried Boston’s starting five in the first half, scoring the most points he’d seen in the series by the end of the second quarter.

That wasn’t all Bradley did, however, as he also had his best defensive game of the series against Jimmy Butler. Bradley played every second Chicago’s All-Star was on the floor, helping limit Jimmy Buckets to 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He also only let him get to the foul line once after Butler attempted 23 free throws in Game 4.

Through the first four games, Butler was only averaging 24.8 points per game on 40.8 percent shooting, but in such a pivotal game, Bradley’s work on the defensive end was phenomenal.

The Celtics got plenty of help from Al Horford (21-9-7), Kelly Olynyk (14 points) and even IT (24 points) despite the inefficient shooting. But in a make-or-break Game 5 with experienced stars like Butler and Dwyane Wade in town, it was Bradley’s two-way contributions that made the biggest difference.