So far this season, the Bulls are the fastest team in the NBA. After a made basket by their opponents, Bulls’ possessions last 15.5 seconds on average, compared to the league average of 17.3 seconds and the Celtics’ 17.9 seconds. Against the reigning NBA champions, Billy Donovan’s team knew they needed to push the pace even harder—and they did.
After Celtics’ made shots, the Bulls averaged 14.6 seconds per possession. They aimed to disrupt Boston’s defense by running more and preventing the Celtics from setting up their usual schemes. The Bulls’ 129 points suggest this strategy worked.