BOSTON -- It feels wrong to preview a playoff basketball series when a key figure in it, Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas, is dealing with the heartbreaking loss a younger sibling. His 22-year-old sister, Chyna, passed away Saturday morning in a car accident, and as I sit here, typing these words, it is very clear that basketball fails to compare, that all the talk about bench scoring, defensive rebounding or any other on-court issue exists in its own world, and that other, realer worlds matter so much more.

It is my hope that Thomas deals with the tragedy however he needs to, and that whenever he steps on the TD Garden court again -- whether he plays in Sunday's Game 1 or not -- the cheers wrap him with love, alert him just how much he has meant to New England over the last two-plus years, and maybe, in whatever small way they can, help him cope with the devastation he must be feeling.

Thomas went through practice Saturday afternoon without knowing his sister's 1998 Toyota Camry had struck a Jersey barrier and crashed into a pole in Washington state. She reportedly passed away at the scene of the accident around 5 a.m., but the news did not reach Thomas until hours later, after the Celtics concluded a short workout to prepare for their playoff opener the following day.

Under normal circumstances, this would not be an emotional tweet:

Brad Stevens is at Thomas' home now. — Mark Murphy (@Murf56) April 16, 2017

But given the situation, it's heartbreaking.

I intended to start this story with something about how the Celtics and Chicago Bulls are traveling at different trajectories, and how that difference could be illustrated simply by pointing to the recent past, when the two teams pondered a blockbuster trade. It won't matter in the playoffs that Boston has set itself up for years of deep runs or that the Bulls could still deal their star player this summer, but it's an interesting dichotomy within the upcoming first-round series. One team is built for future success. The other has a quirky, temporary roster and doesn't appear settled on how to proceed forward.

Playoff basketball, y'all. This is normally my favorite time of year, when the cold starts to lift, golf returns as an option, and the TD Garden rocks with anticipation. Nobody really expected the Celtics to do much in the previous two postseasons, but now a long run feels possible. Though they aren't the most powerful No. 1 seed ever, they have a nearly perfect draw, one of the NBA's best offensive players, and an improved starting lineup, thanks to Al Horford and internal improvement. The Eastern Conference Finals are possible and, if the Cavaliers defense remains hidden, who knows what else might be in store. Jae Crowder said Boston's players expect a championship. If so, they're an optimistic bunch.

The Celtics are flawed. More so than most top seeds, at least. They haven't always held their own on the glass. Their bench units deteriorated after the All-Star break. Their defense has gone in and out, their 3-point shooting dipped as the season progressed, and have you seen what their offense looks like with Thomas on the bench?

There are reasons to doubt this team, to wonder if they might be susceptible to an upset -- even in the first round against the totally mediocre Bulls. Butler's fantastic. Nikola Mirotic's range has helped unlock his team's offense. Rajon Rondo hasn't played better in years. Dwayne Wade is always threatening.

But these Bulls still have an ill-fitting, incomplete roster that would have failed to reach the playoffs if Butler had been anything less than brilliant; a midseason trade shipping Taj Gibson to Oklahoma City only damaged the biggest strength the Bulls would have had against Boston.

The Celtics should not lose. They should have more offense, better players, and a coaching advantage. They may or may not have the best player (Butler's damn good), but Thomas has developed into a true star and Horford should make playoff basketball easier for his shortest teammate.

I planned to break down a few key areas in the series before concluding this story with my prediction: Boston in six. But that no longer feels like an appropriate ending so here goes.

Let Boston roar for Thomas like never before. Let the building beat with a city's adoration. Let the cheers rise like the noise itself could carry him through anything. Maybe the support will touch him. Maybe it will lift him and his family in whatever small way is possible. Basketball games happen all the time, but this is real life too.