Celtics @ Bulls: Game 4!!!! There's Blood In The Water...................

Record: 22-25

The Pick:

Celtics -2.5 over Bulls

See that record above? It's mostly 'sharp' plays.

Dogs.

Advantageous caps with a lot of pats on the back and handshakes when you win.

But the playoffs is not the time for that.

When was the last time you remembered a star going out and a team cruising to victory in the NBA? The Clippers can attest to this. Playoff time comes, there's and injury, and that team goes the way of the Do-Do bird.

Draymond Green last year vs. the Cavs? Didn't leave because of injury but that suspension in Game 5 almost certainly cost them the title. A full strength Warriors team in 5 6 and 7 wins ONE game.

You cannot overstate the value of Rondo in this series, being an ex-Celtic, always being the guy who was the reason they won but shouldered the responsibility of the losses.

And this was his moment to shove it right back down the team's throats.

Forget the advanced metrics folks. Look at the raw numbers:

Games 1 and 2:

20 assists 7 steals 23 points 4 TO's total.

Game 3:

Grant 6 pts 4 TO's 1 Steal

Carter-Williams 2 pts 3 TO's

You cannot lose a player of this magnitude in the playoffs given what backs him up.

You cannot lose a player whose sole motivation is to knock off this ONE TEAM, putting a season's worth of effort into one game.

The Bulls are so desperate, Rondo is resorting to tripping opposing players as the only way he can contribute, morphing back into the sulking, duplicitous player who is despised, and one no team wanted.

Who is going into Game 4 with all the confidence? You think it's the Bulls? The Bulls have indigestion right now and are dry heaving over a toilet. What do you change from Game 3? You were destroyed and now you are down more talent at what is usually the most valued position.

Losing Rondo is a knife in the back. The Celtics have all the momentum, all the health and the pedigree.

This is their get out of jail free card folks. You've been handed them in life. When you are, you know you take advantage of it.

The Celtics also know damn well the Nets handed the Bulls this 8 spot just to take them out instead of the less talented and veteran savvy Heat team. That's another layer here in their subconscious to spur them on.

And if losing Rondo doesn't convince. If the as*-kicking last game to literally take control of the series doesn't convince you, maybe this will:

They did what smart teams do...Clamped down on Butler.

NINETEEN of his 21 shots were contested.

Furthermore, 3/4'ths of all the Bulls shots were contested! That's first-rate defense. The offense was there. The defense was there.

Just rinse and repeat with no travel on the same floor two nights later.

This was inspired play. This was first rate Celtics play. This was the failing of "star out other players step up" theory which ONLY works for ONE GAME and really should only be applied to the regular season not the playoffs where basketball is focused, hard-nosed, and played in a half-court set and no one takes possessions off.

On top of all this, you still have Isaiah Thomas in the background with some extra motivation behind this series play to get this back to Boston 2-2 and take the lead.

WHAT are the BULLS OFFERING YOU!???? Not much.

And for all this, the price tag is a mere 2.5 points????

Yes, please. We will take that. No handshakes or pats on the back for such a square, obvious play.

I'll wave to you from the window with my Celtics winner while you sit your ripped leather Golden Nugget seat wondering why you ever put money on the Bulls in this spot.

You cannot overstate the value of Rondo in this series, being an ex-Celtic, always being the guy who was hardly ever the reason they won but shouldered the responsibility of the losses.

Now was the time to pay them back.

And now he's gone. All of that motivation. The fear of god in Brad Steven's eyes when Rondo lit them up in the first two games.

All gone....

For 2.5 points. Home or Road is irrelevant here folks. The only thing you'll hear from Bulls fans tomorrow is groans.

They'll fight and the Celtics will close over the number late.

You're reasons for backing the Bulls are? List them here.

Plays

Celtics ML is -145.

No one here wants me to give them advice on such on a play. They are more than willing to play it themselves.

$45 extra on every $100 is far too much to post and expect others to think you helped them.

Unless it's a pro wrestling exotic where any minus money is welcome and is already determined.