Chief Concern: Parish Powers Celtics Past Bulls in OT Thriller, 125-110
Parish dominates Bulls in overtime classic
BOSTON – It was supposed to be different this time. Riding high on a 10-3 start, Lenny Wilkens’ Chicago Bulls rolled into the hostile Boston Garden looking to prove they belonged among the East’s elite. Instead, they left haunted by the same ghosts, dropping a heartbreaking 125-110 overtime decision to K.C. Jones and the ever-steady Boston Celtics.
And the chief tormentor? None other than Robert Parish.
While the pre-game buzz might have focused on Larry Bird or Kevin McHale, it was the stoic dominance of "The Chief" that truly sank the visiting Bulls. Parish delivered a vintage performance, a masterclass in low-post efficiency and relentless effort, pouring in a team-high 37 points on a remarkable 17-of-26 shooting. But the scoring was only half the story. The veteran center owned the glass, ripping down 17 rebounds, and perhaps most surprisingly, showcased incredibly active hands, nabbing a staggering 7 steals while adding 2 blocks for good measure. Oh, and did we mention zero turnovers? That’s right, zero.
Contrast that pristine line with the Bulls' struggle to simply hold onto the basketball. Chicago coughed it up a whopping 23 times, a crippling number against a disciplined team like Boston, who committed a mere 8 turnovers themselves. This glaring disparity proved to be the Bulls' Achilles' heel, short-circuiting possessions and fueling the Celtics' transition game.
The reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Jordan, was once again spectacular in defeat. Following up his 48-point outburst against Boston on opening night (a 91-74 Bulls loss), His Airness tallied another game-high 45 points tonight, dazzling the Garden crowd with his aerial acrobatics. He added 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. But even Jordan wasn't immune to the turnover bug, committing 9 himself – more turnovers than the entire Celtics roster combined.
It's a frustrating pattern for the young Bulls. They battled the defending Eastern Conference champs tooth-and-nail through regulation, matching them point-for-point (99-99) after four quarters. But overtime was a different story entirely. Whether it was fatigue, crumbling composure, or simply the weight of facing the Celtics' championship pedigree, the Bulls ran out of gas. Boston outscored Chicago 26-11 in the extra frame, executing with veteran poise while the Bulls seemed to lose their handle – both literally and figuratively.
This marks the Bulls' second loss to Boston this season and continues a worrying trend after going just 1-5 against their rivals last year. While the 10-4 start is still promising, nights like these serve as a stark reminder: Michael Jordan might be superhuman, but until the Bulls learn to protect the basketball and get more consistent contributions around their star, conquering the giants of the East – especially the Celtics, powered by timeless forces like Robert Parish – will remain just out of reach.