In a point guard clash that promised to showcase past greatness (Rajon Rondo) against present greatness (Isaiah Thomas), the Celtics-Bulls series also featured a lot of sorrow at the outset. Thomas’ sister was tragically killed in a car accident as the series began and the #1 seed Celtics looked understandably unlike themselves losing the first two series games at home to a resurgent Bulls team. But Rondo got hurt in Game 2 and the Celtics have won three straight, including two in Chicago, looking like the #1 seed again.
The Celtics took Game 5 in Boston 108-97, led by the under-hyped Avery Bradley who scored 24 and locked down as usual on defense. In a guard-rich league, Bradley is among the best though he rarely gets mentioned in the elite conversation. His backcourt mate Thomas had 24 too and savvy big Al Horford did it all with 21 points, seven boards and nine assists. The Bulls haven’t won since Rondo went down.
