The Boston Celtics have played the Milwaukee Bucks 3 different times this season.
Let me rephrase that.
Their average margin of victory this year against the Bucks is 31 points.
Call me crazy, but that seems pretty good!
Of course, we’ll hear about how the Bucks were on a B2B in this game.
I’m supposed to give a fuck?
Why is it my problem the Bucks left their best players in to statpad against the Pacers?
Instead they played Jrue and Giannis so Holiday could get his 50 and Giannis his video game numbers.
Last time I checked, they sat Middleton so he would be ready for Boston.
So sorry, in the NBA you have to play B2Bs.
You got your ass whooped.
That’s just the reality.
Maybe the Celts find a way to regain the #1 seed, maybe the don’t.
Unfortunately through their own play, they do not control their own destiny.
Last night told us a few things.
First, they are not afraid of MIL whatsoever.
As I always say, perspective is important.
Is it annoying they fuck around against dogshit teams?
Alright, we have a lot to get to, let’s dive in.
They have nobody who can stop Jayson Tatum.
Not Giannis, not Jrue, pick a name and it’s still the same result.
How does 40/8/1 on 12-18 (8-10) shooting in just 30 minutes sound to you?
Watching this game had to give Bucks fans Game 6 flashbacks, because it was essentially the same performance.
They tried everything and none of it mattered.
At some point, these are not just one-off performances, they become a trend.
In a game like this, your best players need to show up and carry.
Especially on the road.
- Enter Jaylen Brown.
Sorry, I misspoke.
Enter All NBA Jaylen Brown
Everything I just said about Tatum is also true when it comes to Jaylen.
The Bucks cannot stay with either of these guys.
How many times did we see them attack old as shit Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles?
If you might’t stop their wings, you’re cooked.
They combined for 1 TO.
Add in their strong work defensively, and this was a statement.
The Bucks may have Giannis, but they don’t have the Jays.
Crazy what things look like when he has to earn his points offensively through actual basketball huh?
I’m ready to declare that no team in the NBA defends Giannis as well as the Celtics.
He took just 3 FTA last night because the Celts have the blueprint.
Their defense was basically flawless when it came to making life hard on Giannis.
That’s the key, you just have to make things tough without fouling.
He finished 11-27 in this game and everything at the rim was contested.
What makes this all possible is the fact that the Celts can show Giannis multiple looks.
Sometimes it was Marcus Smart by himself with no help.
Sometimes it was Al Horford doing what Al Horford does.
The point is, the Celts know that the Giannis spin is coming.
They know how to adapt.
Brad built his roster full of versatile defenders specifically for an approach like this.
- I guess this Joe guy can coach after all huh?
Quick check on Mazzulla Ball if that’s OK. My god are they tough.
Since the Cavs loss on 3/6, he;s been playing his role to perfection.
He’s passing/defending first and the results speak for themselves (8-2).
When the three guards fill their role it changes everything.
- While we had mostly a quiet night for Derrick, the same cannot be said about Brogdon.
Nobody on this Bucks roster/second unit is staying in front of Brogdon.
I’m supposed to believe that’s magically going to change?
This was a guy who was a +41 in his 27 minutes!
The Celts were still up 22.
That’s pretty scary.
- From time to time I hear this narrative that Robert Williams is unplayable in a Bucks series.
I’m sorry, what?
Rob was the best defensive big man in this game.
It’s not just the blocks, it’s the fact that players have to think about Rob.
Giannis learned that Rob can meet him at the rim no problem.
A fully healthy Rob is playable in any series/any matchup.
- Al Horford is a gift from God.
That is all that needs to be said.
- I imagine getting blown out by 41 points at home is pretty embarrassing.
Instead, they extended it to 40+.
That tells me they were truly locked in and understood that they had to play a full 48.
Part of that is a result from their approach as the Celts stayed tight to guys on the perimeter.
But allowing 15 OREB and losing the 2nd chance points battle 17-8 is something to keep an eye on.
When you play the Bucks, you have to end possessions clean.
We’ve seen it.
15 OREB is too many, regardless of what the final score says.
What is it with this guy and his inability to miss shots when playing the Celtics?
It could be MIA, BKN, MIL, like enough already we get it.
Is this me stretching things because the Celts were fucking dominant?
Who’s to say.
The Ugly
- I dunno guys, the Celtics won by 41 points.
They played nearly perfect basketball for 48 mintues.
What could even fit in this section?
Maybe that Joe played Rob nearly 3 minutes in the 4th quarter and Derrick 6?
There was no need for that and all it did was make me nervous as hell.
The bench can handle a 40 point lead in 12 minutes, I am certain of it.
So now we move on to the Jazz tonight.
you could’t win last night and then drop the game tonight, because then what’s the point.
