Portis produces huge game in NBA playoff debut
BOSTON - While trying to muster up his usual intensity on Sunday, Bulls second-year power forward Bobby Portis still got a chance to appreciate the amped-up atmosphere during his first career playoff game.
Portis specifically mentioned the choreographed light show the Celtics delivered, giving all fans light-up bracelets that turned green for the Celtics or red, white and blue during the anthem.
"Going out there and seeing the crowd, seeing how involved they were," Portis said in the locker room. "Seeing the green lights out there at the beginning, that was fun."
Portis took it all in and delivered a clutch performance in his playoff debut, producing 19 points and 9 rebounds in the Bulls' 106-102 victory. He hit 8 of 10 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
Of all the Bulls players with zero playoff experience, coach Fred Hoiberg said Portis was a guy he wasn't worried about.
"He's going to go out there and play with unbelievable confidence," Hoiberg said. "He's going to play with swagger. He's just a kid that's going to go out there and lay it on the line. He plays with such effort and tenacity."
Portis played very well late in the season and his faceup jumper is one of his strengths. So the Game 1 performance wasn't a surprise and it was something Portis expected.
"I pray each and every day for it," Portis said. "I go to the gym each and every night and get shots up. That's something that I was excited about. I just wanted to go out there and provide some great energy off the bench.
"I feel like if I go out there and play as hard as I can; I felt like once you rebound, the basketball gods reward you."
Portis' last jumper put the Bulls ahead by 9 with less than two minutes on the clock. A few possessions earlier, he blocked a shot by Boston's Jae Crowder.
The final box score told an interesting story. The Bulls used four reserves - Portis, Paul Zipser, Jerian Grant and Cristiano Felicio - all with no playoff experience. But those guys gave the Bulls a lead in the second quarter and ended up outscoring Boston's bench 35-22.
The way Celtics coach Brad Stevens used his bench was reminiscent of San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy scrambling to find an effective closer in the playoffs against the Cubs last fall. Stevens turned to Jonas Jerebko and Gerald Green late in the game after using different guys in the first half.
"At the end of the day, it's still a basketball game," Portis said. "You still have to go out there and do the things you do well. I felt one of the things I do well is shoot the basketball and I did today. I played 62 games this season, I feel comfortable, so I was ready to go."