CHICAGO -- It's impossible to untangle the Boston Celtics' slow playoff start from the emotions surrounding the team after the death of Isaiah Thomas' younger sister.

Avery Bradley has said the Celtics can't use anything as an excuse for dropping their first two games against the Chicago Bulls, but the past week has been incredibly challenging for everyone to deal with. Thomas has called it "without question the hardest week of my life." His teammates have struggled with how best to support their star point guard.

Marcus Smart pointed to the strain on the locker room Thursday afternoon when asked what the Celtics need to do to regain their edge.

"There's been a lot going on these couple days since before the playoffs started with the whole Isaiah situation," Smart replied. "That's a lot of burden on his shoulders, and not just him, but we feel it too. That's our brother, and when he goes through something we all go through it. I think you can see it even in Isaiah. He's never missed six free throws (in a single game) in his career (like he did in Game 2)."

Thomas played Game 1 one day after his 22-year-old sister, Chyna, passed away in a tragic car accident. Though the guard scored 33 points, he was not very communicative with his teammates. They tried to give him his space and want to do whatever's best for him, but it's hard -- impossible, maybe -- to know how to act. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens called the locker room "quiet." Team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said it feels like there's "a cloud over the team."

Maybe it shouldn't be so surprising Boston dropped the first two games. While the Bulls tout how locked in they have been, the Celtics have dealt with real-life tragedy -- especially Thomas, who has somehow averaged 26 points per game. He flew to Tacoma, Wash., to be with his family Wednesday. Stevens said he expects the guard to return to Chicago late Thursday night, in plenty of time to compete in Game 3.

During Thomas' brief absence, Bradley has stayed in touch with his long-time friend.

"I've been talking to him. I talked to him yesterday and talked to him today," Bradley said Thursday. "Being with family at a time like this I think is very important and it's very helpful, and us being his extended family, I think us continuing to send him positive texts, I know that always helps."

Added Smart: "It's good to have this day off, this break -- it's good for Isaiah to go to see his family and things like that. Really, we just have to come together as a group even more."