Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Wednesday, April 26th, the Chicago Bulls will take on the Boston Celtics in game five of their Eastern Conference playoff series.  The series is tied (2-2).

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Celtics 105.9 – Bulls 100.4 with an over/under of 206.3.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Celtics +2.6 (8^th) > Bulls +0.5 (14^th)

Points per game: Celtics 108.0 (7^th) > Bulls 102.9 (23^rd)

Points allowed per game: Bulls 102.4 (6^th) > Celtics 105.4 (15^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Celtics 45.4% (16^th) > Bulls 44.4% (25^th)

Three Point Percentage: Celtics 35.9% (14^th) > Bulls 34.0% (tied for 24^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Celtics 45.0% (9^th) > Bulls 45.8% (16^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Celtics 12.6 (tied for 8^th) > Bulls 13.0 (13^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Celtics 13.4 (tied for 15^th) > Bulls 12.9 (tied for 20^th)

Rebounds per game: Bulls 46.3 (3^rd) > Celtics 42.0 (tied for 26^th)

Assists per game: Celtics 25.2 (tied for 3^rd) > Bulls 22.6 (14^th)

Summary:

The series is now tied (2-2) after Boston won game five 104-95.  Surprisingly, neither team has secured a home win in this series.  Boston is averaging 101.8 points in the four games while Chicago is averaging 99.8.  Chicago will be without their starting point guard Rajon Rondo who is sidelined with a wrist injury.  It’s no coincidence the Bulls struggled without Rondo the past two games as he was averaging 10 assists per game in the series.  Jimmy Butler (24.8 PPG, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists) has been tremendous while the Bulls need more from Dwyane Wade (15.5 points and 3.3 assists).  Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas exploded for 33 points in game four and is averaging 25.5 points and 6.0 assists for the series.  The Bulls failed to score 100 points in each of the two games without Rondo and their offense has looked disjointed.  I like the Celtics to step up and win big at home.

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