Celtics Continue to Slump

The Chicago Bulls are first in the Eastern Conference and the Boston Celtics are second. Those who follow NBA basketball picks found at BetUS after their meeting on Thursday night, it is blatantly clear that these two teams are heading in opposite directions.

The Bulls handled the Celtics a 97-81 loss, which sent a stern message loud and clear: we are for real.

The Bulls have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference and are closing in on securing home court advantage throughout the East playoffs, which many experts feel they might need to level the playing field with the Celtics, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.

But the way the Bulls are playing, it may be the other teams that have plenty to prove. The Bulls have won nine of 10 and are moving towards the playoffs with plenty of momentum. Meanwhile, the Celtics couldn’t be colder right now.

Boston is just 7-7 in their last 14 and they have been very pedestrian since the bizarre trade of Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.

They have had a gaping hole in their frontcourt without Perkins as Jermaine O’Neal has been out with injuries, although he’s back now, and Shaquille O’Neal has also spent much of his time on the sidelines. The Celtics went from what appeared to be a deep rotation in the frontcourt to a very thin lineup that is readily being exposed.

There is no question that this is an experienced, veteran team that could still repeat as East champs if they put the pedal to the metal but right now, they are out of sync.

Throw in the fact that they watched their defensive guru from last year, coach Tom Thibodeau, create the Bulls into a monster, and the Celtics are definitely showing a few chinks in the armor. The playoffs are rapidly approaching and the Celtics better iron out the kinks or their journey won’t be a long one.