Rose leads Bulls past Celtics 97-81 - Close in on Home-court Advantage

CHICAGO - Derrick Rose scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls on top seed closed in the Eastern Conference, beating the Boston Celtics 97-81 on Thursday.

The Bulls "The 17 in 19 games to put four games over Boston and Miami with four to play and to remove heat from entering the No. 1 seed.

The Celtics, who play the Heat on Sunday, mathematics, once again, but a remote control.

But unless the collapse, Chicago is the top seed in the East.

It is another step for a team that should great things after a major overhaul, and all the Bulls have done is to provide their best season since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen made championship celebrations a regular event.

Rose was a highlight reel of a man against Rajon Rondo, hit him with a crossover and reach the edge, especially at the start of classes. Rose scored 16 points in the first half as the Bulls jumped out to a 48-43 lead, and Chicago after a brief regrouped in the third position.

Luol Deng scored 23 points and Carlos Boozer added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Chicago dominated the Celtics 44-22 in the paint, outrebounded them 44-35 and held Boston to 38.4 percent shooting.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 15 points. Kevin Garnett scored his 10 points in the second half and finished with seven Rondo Jeff Green scored 10 and Ray Allen had seven points.

The Bulls led 48-43 at halftime when Pierce made a bridge and Rondo hit his first two baskets to give Boston a one-point lead, but the Bulls responded by running 10 straight, a dunk by Deng and the float Rose what it 58-49 midway through the third.

E 'state after 61-58 Glen Davis hit two free throws just over three minutes from the end of the quarter, the Bulls began a journey that stretched 13-2 in the fourth quarter.

Deng began the surge with a 3, and followed by a layup off a turnover Boozer with a steal and layup to make it 68-58 with 1:31 left. Davis hit two free throws for Boston. But Rose made a 3 with 23 seconds left in the quarter and Boozer added a play to three points 45 seconds into the fourth to strengthen the lead 74-60 in Chicago.

Not only do the Bulls in front of one of the best teams in the East, also honored with the unveiling of a sculpture Pippen him during a halftime ceremony.

Playoff Preview: First Round Match Up - Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

This is one series I feel in no doubt speculating about: The Cleveland Cavaliers is obviously the better team and will undoubtedly best the Bulls in this best of seven series in the first round of the play off. On the other Chicago has had a great run to make it into the playoffs; unfortunately they don’t have enough strength and size to take on the Cavaliers.

With the guidance of the KING, the league MVP LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers are just too deep and too experienced. Equipped with high caliber weapons like Shaq, Z, Williams and Jamison there is nothing that this team doesn’t have – they have size, scoring, defense, rebounding. And they are on a mission to get in to the Finals.

In Cavaliers mind, they want to take Bulls out right away. Fortunately, LeBron get right back into his rhythm as he returns to the court after taking some time off and give Cavaliers a two nothing game advantage over Bulls.

Chicago is competing two things have to happen for as the play offs goes on: Noah has to play off the charts like he did during the past games and guards Rose and Hinrich have to make shots. Deng also has to play big because he’s probably going to be guarding LeBron, in order to retain their moral after losing two times in a row at the Quicken Loans Arena.