How we see it goin' down: Celtics vs Bulls

Tip: 7PM Court: TD Garden Watch it: CSNNE Hear it: WEEI

Referees: Marc Davis, Sean Corbin & Eli Roe

Spread: Even

The Matchup


Record: 20-18	Record: 22-15
At Home: 13-7	On road: 11-5
Streak: Lost 1	Streak: Won 2

Leaders	Leaders
Buckets: Pierce (19.0 ppg)	Buckets: Luol Deng (17.8 ppg)
Boards: Garnett (7.0 rpg)	Boards: Joakim Noah (10.7 rpg)
Dimes: Rondo (11.1 apg)	Dimes: Kirk Hinrich (5.3 apg)

For the Stat Geeks:	For the Stat Geeks:
Offensive Rating: 102.7 (24th NBA)	Offensive Rating: 103.7 (19th NBA)
Defensive Rating: 103.4 (9th NBA)	Defensive Rating: 101.3 (5th NBA)
Pace: 91.0 (20th NBA)	Pace: 90.1 (24th NBA)

Last time

The Bulls won the last meeting, 100-89 in Chicago. Joakim Noah dropped a triple-double and Nate Robinson outscored the entire Boston bench. The Celtics beat Chicago, 101-95, on November 12. Rajon Rondo ripped the Bulls to shreds with a 20 point, 9 rebound, 10 assist performance.

This time

Get it to: Rajon Rondo

For the Celtics to score against the Bulls suffocating defense (rank 1st in half-court defense, 2nd in spot-up shooting and opp points per play), their offense needs to run at maximum efficiency. And that means Rajon Rondo needs to capitalize on fast break opportunities and penetrate during half-court sets. Plus, Rondo always seems to have good games vs Chicago.

Gotta stop: Carlos Boozer

Chicago’s favorite whipping boy is playing at his peak; averaging 24. ppg and 10.8 rpg in eight games this month. We know how Booz does it, with a soft jumper and bruising moves in the post.

The Wild Card: Jared Sullinger

Sully was a no-show vs New Orleans and the Celtics need him to bounce back tonight. Chicago is a physical team that rebounds extremely well. Is it a stretch to say the Celtics need Sullinger to rack up a double-double if they are going to win this game?