DEERFIELD, Ill.The Chicago Bulls (24-7) have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Throw in their 95-91 loss at Boston on Sunday, and you can count on the Celtics (15-13) getting a stronger effort from the Bulls, regardless of whether Bulls star Derrick Rose (back) is in the lineup tonight.
"He's still day-to-day; he's feeling better," said Bulls coach and former Celtics assistant, Tom Thibodeau. "He just did some shooting today. He's still a game-time decision."
Rose said he'll have treatments for his back now in addition to when he arrives at the United Center later tonight.
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The Celtics have their own health-related concerns heading into tonight's game.
In addition to being without Brandon Bass (left knee), the Celtics may have to play without Kevin Garnett as well.
A hip flexor injury sidelined Garnett in Wednesday's 98-88 home loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Garnett, like Rose, will also be a game-time decision.
The health of the reigning league MVP (Rose) and a former league MVP (Garnett) are certainly important factors in tonight's game.
But they aren't the only ones.
We'll take a look at a few others right now.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR - You can bet Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has been on his team lately for how freely they have allowed other teams to score. Despite having the third-best scoring defense (88 points per game) in the NBA this season, the Bulls have given up 105 points per game in their last two games which includes a 95-91 loss to Boston. "Defensively, we have to play a lot better," Thibodeau said. "Our defense has been OK most of the year. But the last two games, it's not where we want it to be."
MATCHUP TO WATCH - Ray Allen vs. Ronnie Brewer: Allen is currently trying to snap out of a mini-shooting slump in which he has averaged 7.7 points on 31.8 percent shooting from the field in the C's last three games. In addition, Allen has missed six of his seven 3-point attempts in that span. Brewer is what you'd call an intangibles guy who does a lot of little things to help the Bulls win, but may not necessarily show up in the final statistics. Against the Celtics, that would be trying to continue making Ray Allen an ineffective scorer.
PLAYER TO WATCH - Paul Pierce will look to bounce back from an inexplicable performance in Wednesday's loss to Detroit. He had 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting, but never at any point in the game looked like he was ready to take over. Rajon Rondo's career night scoring the ball did have a downside - it kept Pierce from ever getting into any kind of flow because Rondo had it going with points in the paint as well as from the perimeter hitting jumpers. Look for the Celtics to try and establish Pierce as a scorer early tonight.
STAT TO TRACK - Celtics coach Doc Rivers was not pleased with his team's lack of ball movement in the loss to Detroit. Indeed, it was an unusual night for the the C's in terms of spreading the wealth. Boston scores via an assist on 64.6 percent of their made baskets, which is tops in the NBA. In the 98-88 loss to the Pistons, the Celtics had 16 assists on 34 made baskets, or 47 percent. For Boston to have a shot at winning, they'll likely need to be trending close to what they normally do in terms of assists to field goals made this season.