Healthy basketball, starting from eating the old Lakers F4

After winning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bulls gained confidence and wanted to keep working hard and win another away game so that they can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals faster and prepare for the Finals.

However, after G2 started the game, they found that things went against their wishes.

Contrary to what the Bulls players thought before the game, after the game started, the Celtics players were not frustrated by the loss in G1. Instead, they learned from their mistakes and played very proactively and resolutely.

Perhaps the Bulls players were a little too complacent and relaxed, thinking that since they could achieve such a brilliant victory in G1 with 5 vs. 8, G2 would be even easier.

It was precisely because of their inappropriate attitude that they were caught off guard by the Celtics players who were eager to maintain their home-court advantage.

The Bulls came for revenge, but ended up being avenged by the Celtics instead.

From the first quarter, the Celtics played tight defense.

Then they used defense to drive offense, and through repeated defensive counterattacks and fast breaks, they scored 14 points in a single quarter.

There were only five goals scored through shooting and positional breakthroughs, and the number and efficiency of points scored were far less than those obtained through transition offense.

Coupled with 8 free throws in the first quarter, the Celtics maintained the lead throughout the first quarter.

Although the Bulls tried various means to catch up, they fell behind step by step and could only narrow the score but could not overtake.

In the second quarter, to the Bulls' surprise, the two rookies played better and better and both found their touch.

The Bulls clearly took the initiative to increase their defensive actions, but the two rookies who have already entered their peak period and have superstar strength started to fight hard, and the Bulls just couldn't stop them.

Even if one of them is pinned down for one or two rounds, the other one will step out to take control of the ball and quickly continue to fire.

The two rookies fired one after another, and the Bulls tried hard to catch up but were never able to catch up.

The Bulls were behind for a quarter and a half, and the referee interfered with the game, making it very difficult for the entire team.

Bulls players are also human beings and have emotions.

The game situation was always unfavorable and the penalties were unfair to the Bulls, which made some Bulls players lose their passion and feel frustrated.

For this reason, in the second half of the second quarter, some Bulls players were not so focused on defense, and the Celtics took advantage of the situation and made several tactical and chance shots, causing the score difference to widen suddenly.

As the game entered the second half, the Bulls' core players Jokic, Curry and Durant all tried to save the team's current slump in their own ways.

Although the performance of the two rookies had ups and downs tonight, at the critical moment, there was always one person who could stand up and help the team maintain its advantage.

All I can say is that times have changed. In the past, a team’s top player lacked personal strength and couldn’t go far in the playoffs.

Nowadays, even if a single star is not good enough, the problem of key balls can be solved by stars working together and a team developing multiple points.

Tonight, the Celtics took advantage of their lineup depth, with the two rookies taking charge of the ball and leading the offense.

The role players also performed brilliantly, and almost no one really failed.

Just like the Bulls in the last game, the core players played to their full potential and the role players also stood out when they should.

As the saying goes, sooner or later you will have to pay for what you have done.

The Bulls failed to overcome the difficulties they encountered from the first quarter, and failed to make up for and solve their own problems in a timely manner.

On the other hand, the Celtics finally got their chance to show off their skills and play with their style at their home court, TD Garden.

98 to 109, the Bulls flew back to Chicago overnight with the regret of losing by 11 points.

However, a record of one win and one loss in away games is not unacceptable to the Bulls players and fans.

The key to this series lies mainly in the next two home games.

Even though the Bulls just lost, their mentality is different after returning to their home court.

There are 20 to 30 fewer free throws in each away game, so you can't be so blatant when you return to your home court, right?
We Bulls have the best center in the league!
The team's number of breakthroughs was also among the top four in the league during the regular season.

The Bulls won't have to call the police if they play at home next time and have a few fewer free throws.

However, if it really goes too far, the more than 20,000 Bulls fans at the scene will curse.

You know, the Chicago typewriter is very famous.

Referees who come to the United Center in Chicago to enforce penalties also have to consider the elegant, easy-going and hospitable Chicagoans.

As expected, in G3, the penalty standards for the home game were completely different from those for the away game.

Even the whistle in the first half was a bit biased towards the Bulls.

In this situation, the Bulls players can accept the balance whistle in the second half, even if it is a hair whistle.

After all, as early as the first half, the Bulls had established a lead of nearly 20 points.

Generally speaking, once a team has too much of a lead, problems will arise, such as becoming reckless on offense or slacking off on defense.

The Bulls are different. They have played this kind of game many times and know that the bigger the lead, the more compact they have to play and the more disciplined they have to be.

Without saying anything else, as long as you see someone missing a man on the court, or thinks they are ahead by a large margin and rewards themselves with a shot from outside the three-point line without waiting for their teammates to get into position, you will definitely call a timeout, or replace the player through a dead ball.

In fact, during some dead ball phases, Duane would also emphasize a few points to his teammates.

Therefore, most of the time, there is no need for the coach off the court to call a timeout to make adjustments.

It is also because the Bulls have good discipline that they can consolidate their advantage.

The Celtics in the second half of G3 were similar to the Bulls in G2. Since they were always behind and found that there was no way to catch up or win, some players became frustrated, which affected their performance.

The Bulls players took the opportunity to hit a few chances and further widened the gap. As a result, in just the third quarter, the Celtics collapsed in three quarters.

In the end, the Bulls' main players only played for three or four minutes in the fourth quarter, and the rest of the game was just garbage time.

Another victory achieved!
The Eastern Conference semifinals are now 2 to 1!

Next, the Bulls have a home-court advantage!
If the Bulls continue to work hard and win another game, the situation will undoubtedly be very unfavorable to the Celtics.

This is basically the scenario when the Bulls defeated the Celtics in the playoffs in the past.

Faced with a similar scenario, the Celtics, who played away in G4, were under a lot of pressure.

In order to win this crucial game, the Celtics players had to go all out from the beginning.

Different from the play in G3, the Celtics in G4 let role players get the ball and play more.

After all, after the first three games, the performance of the two rookies can be said to be remarkable.

Except for G1 where they were a little afraid of the Bulls and were restrained, G2 and G3 were fully effective.

Also realizing that the Bulls' perimeter defensive resources cannot completely limit them, the Celtics' two rookies are confident that they can stand up and score for the team at critical moments.

So, the most critical part of defeating the Bulls is whether the role players can step up and help the Celtics overcome difficulties.

To some extent, this arrangement is correct.

When role players get the ball more often, it can motivate them to play the game, while also helping them develop their touch and increase their performance.

However, the intensity of the playoffs sometimes affects the performance of role players.

Especially at the beginning, when the role players took the ball and attacked, they encountered very tough defense and failed to score.

Once this happens, the game situation will be very unfavorable for them.

The Bulls were obviously more mature than the Celtics. In the first quarter, their main players took the ball first as usual to open the situation. After establishing a leading advantage, they did not waste time and continued to play steadily to put pressure on the Celtics.

The offensive end is the Celtics' worst performer on the field. Once the ball is scored, his confidence can be quickly destroyed, making him a complete undercover.

If Celtics head coach Mazzulla discovered this undercover and took the initiative to replace him, then the Celtics players who were also not performing well but had not been replaced would also play timidly.

As for those role players who play well, the Bulls can send people to use bigger moves to confront them when they are fighting for rebounds, so as to consume their physical strength and destroy their touch.

As long as the foul is not committed by the two rookies, sometimes the referee will not blow the whistle even if he notices it, not to mention that this is the Bulls' home court.

It is normal to have some movements when playing ball.

If the referee didn’t blow the whistle, it’s a good ball!

It was with this experience that the Bulls further eroded the Celtics' psychological defenses and established more scoring leads.

By the time the Celtics realized something was wrong and called on their two rookies to take action, it was already too late.

Of course, this is also because the Bulls made early preparations.

Because the action in this game was quite intense, when the two rookies took over the ball, they found their hands were cold and they couldn't find their form.

If we follow the plan and suddenly find teammates, maybe role players can score one or two.

But the two top players got anxious and then they disappeared.

After winning two home games in a row with a score of 3 to 1, the Bulls, who have three points in hand, have already secured victory.

Back at TD Garden in Boston, the Bulls players no longer have much in mind for revenge.

However, there is no slacking off.

One more win and we'll reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and one more round and we'll reach the Finals.

Just do it! Champions, here we come again!
The Bulls made this vow at the beginning of the season, and they are not used to empty talk.

In this case, let’s fulfill it and realize it.

On May 5, the Bulls fought hard until Game 16 and were united as one, leading the game in the first three quarters.

Although the lead was not big, they still suppressed the Celtics by a large margin in terms of momentum.

By the fourth quarter, the Celtics were a little anxious and wanted to create damage and establish an advantage through free throws.

But after suffering two losses, the Bulls became cautious and did not let the Celtics succeed.

At the same time, Jokic, Curry, Durant and others also took the ball and scored successively to stabilize the situation.

Especially in the crucial last two minutes, the Celtics couldn't defend against Durant and Jokic's strong low-post shots.

In the end, the Bulls relied on their leader Jokic's hook shot to basically secure the victory.

Then, when the Celtics' tying and buzzer-beating tactics failed to work, they were forced to resort to free throws, sending Wiggins, who was unstable in free throw shooting, to the free throw line.

Fortunately, Wiggins did not show mercy this time and made both free throws.

After the Celtics missed their last three-pointer, the last four seconds passed quickly and the Bulls finally defeated the Celtics with a score of 4 to 113.

The series score was 4-1, and the Celtics, the favorites to win the championship, were swept out by the Bulls.

The Bulls also successfully completed their revenge plan and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals! (End of this chapter)