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Rivers not underestimating Bulls

Print | Comments () Posted by Staff December 12, 2009 02:19 PM

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The Chicago Bulls had an 8-13 record and had won twice in the last 11 games before meeting the Celtics Saturday night.

But Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers is not underestimating the Bulls, who went to seven games before being eliminated by the Celtics in the playoffs last season.

“They have had injuries,” Rivers said after the Celtics’ morning shootaround. “Kirk Hinrich, (Luol) Deng coming back from injury, (Derrick) Rose sprained his ankle, now he’s starting to get healthy. And losing (Ben) Gordon, a go-to guy at the end of games. But if you look at their defensive numbers they are better than last year. They are making less ‘3s’ and getting foul line less, which is unusual.

“When your best player, Rose, is hurt, you’re going to struggle – especially if that player has the ball in his hands.”