Preview: Celtics at Bulls
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[October 27, 2016]
Dwyane Wade makes his debut for
the hometown club when the Chicago Bulls open the season on Thursday
against the visiting Boston Celtics. Wade spent his first 13 NBA
seasons with the Miami Heat before joining the Bulls as a free agent
this summer and he looks to help Chicago return to the playoffs
after the franchise missed out last season.
The Bulls' offseason housecleaning saw the departures of Derrick
Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah and the arrivals of point guard
Rajon Rondo and center Robin Lopez in addition to Wade, who received
a two-year, $47 million deal to return home to Chicago. The moves
didn't create much excitement on a national scale and holdover
All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler is just fine with
prognosticators taking a dim outlook. "I think everybody overlooks
us, anyway. All we can do is overachieve," Butler told reporters. "I
know the group of guys we've got. I know how we've been working and
preparing. So I know how I think it's going to go. I don't pay
attention to (the critics)." The Celtics recorded a 122-117 victory
over the Brooklyn Nets in Wednesday's season opener as All-Star
point Isaiah Thomas contributed 25 points and nine assists.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CELTICS (1-0): Veteran center Al Horford was signed to a
four-year, $113 million contract in the offseason to perhaps be the
difference maker and allow the Celtics to make a run at Cleveland's
Eastern Conference throne. The former Atlanta Hawks standout had
just 11 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes in his Boston debut
but did contribute six assists and four blocked shots in a game the
Celtics led by 23 before the Nets made things interesting. "That's
the NBA for you," Horford told reporters afterward. "I think it will
humble you sometimes. We had a comfortable lead and we thought it
was fine, but this is a good learning experience for our group."
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ABOUT THE BULLS (2015-16: 42-40): Wade, Butler and Rondo will be
joined in the starting lineup by frontcourt players Lopez and Taj
Gibson - with Gibson prevailing in a close battle over Nikola
Mirotic. Wade averaged 19.0 points last season - tied for second
lowest in his standout career - and said he expects there will be
some early season bumps as he, Butler and Rondo learn to play with
one another. "Everything is different," Wade told reporters, saying
he doesn't know if the transition will be smooth. "I can't say it
will or it won't be. With every team when you add a new piece, when
you add new players, it's going to be a moment where you have to
adjust to each other."
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Boston won two of last season's three meetings.
2. The Celtics will again play without PF/C Kelly Olynyk (shoulder)
and PG Marcus Smart (ankle).
3. Chicago rookie SG Denzel Valentine (ankle) is expected to be
available despite missing most of the preseason.
PREDICTION: Bulls 105, Celtics 101
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