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Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics Game 3 Predictions

Written April 23, 2009 by Jason Lowry

Bulls Celtics The Bulls head back to Chicago with the series tied 1-1, and even though they lost a heartbreaker in game 2, they have to feel like they can win this series. After an exciting game 1 that took overtime to settle the outcome, the Bulls and Celtics had another nail biter in game 2, as the Celtics won on a huge 3-pointer from Ray Allen in the final seconds of the game. The Celtics who are already without Kevin Garnett, got even more bad news, as reserve Leon Powe is out for the rest of the playoffs. In game 2 the Celtics got a lot more scoring from Paul Pierce and Allen, as Pierce had 18 and Allen came up with a team high 30 points. Those weren’t the only Celtics who had a big time game, as Glen Davis had his best playoff game scoring 26 points and Rajon Rondo was outstanding once again, this time recording a triple double. Rondo had 19 points, 16 assists, and 12 rebounds. For the Bulls Derrick Rose wasn’t a scoring machine like he was in game 1, as he had just 10 points, but that was mainly because Ben Gordon was nearly unstoppable scoring a game high 42 points. With the series headed back to Chicago here is a look at what I think each team has to do to win game 3, and my prediction on who comes out on top against the spread.

What the Celtics have to do to win: Keep the ball in Rondo’s hands, as the Bulls have no answer for this guy on the floor. Rondo was all over the floor in game 2, and yes Allen hit the big shots, but if it wasn’t for Rondo this team would be heading to Chicago down 0-2, and in a lot of trouble. The Celtics are going to need more than 9 points from their bench if they want to win at Chicago. I am still waiting for Pierce to go off in this series, especially after all the talk about how the Celtics aren’t even playing good basketball. I don’t think you can count on Davis scoring 26 points in game 3, but the Bulls seem content in letting Davis shoot the open jumper. The Celtics are also going to have to step it up on the defensive end of things, as they have no let two different Bulls go off in the first two games. The fact that the Rose scored just 10 points and the Bulls were still in the game, shows the Bulls are getting the shots they want, and making them. The Celtics are very capable of winning on the road, but they have to play much better than they have in the first two games of the series. Bet the Celtics +2.5 to win at Sportsbook.com.

What the Bulls have to do to win: The Bulls just have to keep doing what they have been in the first two games. The one knock you have to have on the Bulls is in game 2 was their inability to rebound the basketball. The Celtics killed the Bulls on the offensive glass, including a rebound that gave Allen a go ahead 3-pointer late in the game. Rose wasn’t spectacular in game 2 like he was in game 1, and you have to think he will be a little more involved in game 3. Gordon showed just how good he can be at scoring the basketball, and the Bulls need to do whatever they can to get him going early. John Salmons continues to struggle from the field, as he is just 12 of 33 in the first two games of the series, and if he gets it going this team is going to be even harder to stop. I also think the Bulls need Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas to be forces on the defensive end, as they have altered or blocked a number of Celtic shots in the first two games. The Bulls might not be the better team, but they have a ton of confidence heading into game 3, and I would not be surprised at all if the Bulls jumped all over the Celtics. Bet the Bulls -2.5 to win at Sportsbook.com.

My Prediction: Bulls -2.5. While I am not convinced that the Bulls are going to win this series, I do think they will win game 3. The United Center is going to be electric in game 3, and I think the Bulls respond with a solid win. I think the trend of close games will continue, but I think the Bulls pull away just a little at the end and win this one by 5.

For those of you looking for some NBA betting help, be sure to check out our expert NBA picks and grab the latest NBA odds at Betfirms.

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