2017 NBA Playoffs: 3 questions before Game 3 of Bulls-Celtics

The Chicago Bulls have been perfect in the 2017 NBA Playoffs through two games. But, the news of Rajon Rondo’s injury may have turned the tide in their series against the Boston Celtics. We asked three questions before Game 3 tonight.

For the most part, the biggest amount of intrigue 2017 NBA Playoffs revolves around the series between the Chicago Bulls and the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

After stealing two in Boston and outplaying the Celtics on their home floor, the Bulls had all the momentum to become just the sixth team in history to upset the No. 1 seed as an 8-seed.

Then, the news on Friday about Rajon Rondo‘s thumb fracture slowed just about everyone’s roll about thinking the Bulls could pull the upset.

That’s led to some questions entering Game 3 on Friday night, so we decided to ask some of those questions.

How noticeable is Rajon Rondo’s absence going to be?

With the way Rondo had been playing before injuring his thumb in the third quarter of Game 2, it’s safe to assume that Rondo’s absence will be seen often.

For starters, look how good the Bulls have been in this series with him on the floor:

In the first two games, Rondo had only been shooting 42.3 percent from the field, but he averaged 11.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game. The former All-Star floor general also did a good job helping Jimmy Butler contain Jimmy Butler on the defensive end of the floor.

So, yeah … Rondo’s absence is going to be clear for everyone to see on Friday night.

If the Bulls’ backup guards can’t stay on the floor, how much will Jimmy Butler guard Isaiah Thomas?

The options for the Bulls at point guard with Rajon Rondo are as follows: Jerian Grant, Michael Carter-Williams and Cameron Payne (will be active for Game 3).

That’s not exactly the hottest trio of guards to choose from if you’re Fred Hoiberg. How these two (and potentially three) play will help dictate not only how the game goes for the Bulls, but how much time Jimmy Butler spends guarding Isaiah Thomas.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

• The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
• Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
• Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
• Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
• When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know

Rondo has been able to spell some time for Butler guarding IT and it’s allowed Butler to conserve a bit of energy and hit some big shots for the Bulls in the first two games.

If the Bulls’ trio (but more likely duo) can’t slow down Thomas, Hoiberg may just decide to go without a point guard and have Butler and Dwyane Wade take full control of the offense while Butler locks onto Thomas on the other end.

Butler can create for others and himself, but Celtics coach Brad Stevens can throw a number of looks and defenders at Butler to slow him down, which could put the Bulls in a rut. He needs some help from the young guards on Friday or else the Bulls could find themselves in some trouble.

Can the Bulls continue to dominate the glass?

The Bulls have owned the Celtics on the window and it’s been more than just these two games in this series.

But, the gap in total rebounding was much closer on Tuesday night in Game 2. After the Bulls outrebounded the Celtics by 17 (53-36) and by eight on the offensive end (20-12), the difference was much closer in Game 2. The Bulls only outrebounded the C’s by six (44-38) and had just one more offensive rebound than Boston.

(The Bulls did shoot almost 51 percent from the field in Game 2 compared to their 42.9 percentage mark in Game 1.)

Believe it or not, Rondo plays into this category, too. He had 17 total rebounds in the first two games by himself. That comes back to the young guards as well.

Without that rebounding from Rondo, can the Bulls continue their trend of pounding the glass with their best guard rebounder on the shelf?

Next: What are the Bulls going to do without Rajon Rondo?

This is one of those subjects that may not be talked about a lot, but could go a long way in deciding the outcome on Friday night.

Rondo thumb update

So, if the Bulls do advance in the playoffs, that still may not mean Rondo is returning to action.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune basically confirmed Haynes’ report with his own tweet on Rondo’s injury.

That doesn’t sound good.