Welcome to the Garden …
Welcome to the Garden, where the Boston Celtics will take on the Chicago Bulls in Game 2 of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Bulls lead the series, 1-0.
Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson, fresh off his win over the Orioles this afternoon, checked out the Celtics locker room this evening. Masterson was a guest deliverer of tonight’s pregame sermon.
The Bulls were all business in the visitors locker room before the game. Whereas last game the team was loose and joking around, Bulls players sat at their lockers tonight and watched tape of Game 1. Despite his team’s upset in Game 1, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said his team wasn’t overconfident.
“They’re the world champs for a reason,” said Del Negro. “We’re going to have our hands full.”
Del Negro grew up in Springfield and said he has family and friends in the stands. He’s also good friends with Celtics coach Doc Rivers. The two played together in San Antonio.
“Vinny and I are really close friends,” said Rivers. “That’s difficult. We talk a lot. It’s one of those things where you don’t really enjoy a series like this because it’s someone you really care about.
Rivers and Del Negro said they they both talked to Celtics GM Danny Ainge following his heart attack last week. Ainge stopped by the Celtics’ shootaround this morning but will not be at tonight’s game. He has doctor’s orders not to even watch.
“If he’s home there’s no one in his house who will be able to keep him away from the television,” said Rivers.
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