The Boston Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls with a barrage of shots from beyond the arc (including a huge third quarter from deep from Payton Pritchard), the sort of outcome fans of the storied ball club know well. But it was the first time at the helm of his own team that new Chicago Bulls head coach Thiago Splitter faced such a barrage from Boston in that role. Not, however, that it surprised him, even so.
"Well, I mean, this is their game, right? They’re going to shoot 50 3s a game, and they have good shooters," said Splitter. "You have to be able to guard them. I think Pritchard had a great game. Pull up 3s one on one against different players. Yes, we could have like blitzed him or doubled him, but you know they also create rotations and you have catch and shoot 3s, so it’s not that easy. You know they do a good job."
"They play with what they got, and you know the biggest reason is you have got to rebound the ball better," he added. "We have got to take care of the ball, and shoot better on offense as well."
"They literally grab every offensive rebound," continued the Bulls coach. "They made 3s, contested 3s. I mean, we knew that they are a very good team shooting a 3-ball, but when you give them second and third chances, it’s impossible."
"And you have got to get better. I mean, those third quarters were very bad to say the least. And we have got to fix it mentally. Whatever it is, we have got to start those third quarters better."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Chicago Bulls coach Thiago Splitter on facing Boston Celtics 3-point barrage