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We got the #2 Boston Celtics (55-27) matched up against the #7 Milwaukee Bucks (44-38) in this first round Eastern Conference playoffs matchup.
Boston and Milwaukee have played each other 4 times this season, splitting the season series 2-2. However, 3 of those matchups came in October, with the final matchup coming only a week or so ago. Both teams have changed considerably since then. In those early games, the Bucks were still being coached by Jason Kidd.
Kidd was eventually fired and replaced by Joe Prunty, who introduced the Bucks to a more traditional style of ball. Also, Jabari Parker also missed the first 3 matchups between both teams due to his documented injury problems but has recently started finding his since his return to the Bucks.Since the All Star Game break, the Bucks have had the 9th best offense in the league with a 108.9 OffRtg (by comparison, the Celtics' OffRtg was 107.4 because of their injuries). The Greek Freak (Giannis Antetokounmpo) at 611" is a straight-up nightmare for anybody to matchup against. Khris Middleton is a polished scorer with range and Eric Bledsoe can also be a nuisance to contain because of his athleticism.
23-year-old Giannis was a monster against the Cs this season and he averaged 33.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 5 assists in those 4 games against the Celtics. Bledsoe and Middleton are solid role players with decent shooting strokes, while Jabari Parker and Malcolm Brogdon could be X factors. But let’s keep it a buck: The Bucks’ only go as far as the Greek Freak takes them.
Also, the Bucks’ defense has been inconsistent all season, but they can stifle opponents with their length and versatility. The Cs have limited firepower, and if the good version of Milwaukee’s defense shows up on multiple nights, this series could come down to the wire.
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The Celtics, on the other hand, have dealt with injuries since 5 minutes into the first game of the season. We lost Gordon Hayward in that first game and now we've lost Kyrie Irving for the rest of the way since March. :celticsmjcry:We're also dealing with Marcus Smart's injury absence which may cause him to be a late participant in this first round series. :celticsstopitslime:
HOWEVER, the Celtics are buoyed by rookie sensation Jayson Tatum and sophomore stud Jaylen Brown who are the 2 youngest NBA players (at 20 and 21, respectively) to have the NBA playoffs spotlight on them. Both Brown and Tatum were effective against the Bucks in the regular season. Brown averaged 14.8 ppg over 4 games versus the Bucks and Tatum was just behind him with 14.3 ppg of his own. They were also effective getting to the free throw line with a combined 40 attempts. With Irving out until next season, the Celtics will need that much and more from the youngsters.
The Cs also have Al Horford who has been the Celtics' linchpin this season as the anchor of that defense that affords Boston versatility on offense. He averaged 4.7 assists per game, while also hitting 42.9% from the 3. At 6'10", he's the prototypical point-forward. And Horford's played defense at an All-Defense level and will garner some consideration in Defensive Player of the Year voting. And he’s going to have to show up in a big way against Giannis individually.
Irving and Smart combined to average 33.6 points over their 3 games against the Bucks. Terry Rozier, who missed the Celtics’ loss to Milwaukee on April 3 but has emerged as one of the team’s go-to scoring options., will have all the minutes and opportunity to fill the void left by Irving and Smart. The Bucks’ length makes them adept at defending the paint, but if Scary Terry, Brown and Tatum can stretch the floor effectively, it should open things up for Boston’s offense.
Milwaukee’s length also creates serious matchup problems for opposing defenses, with Giannis as the primary threat. But the Bucks’ weakness is that they ranked 22nd in the NBA in 3-point percentage this season. The Cs need to congest the lane to stop the Greek Freak and force the Bucks to beat them from beyond the arc.
Starting Lineups-
BOSTON
PG-Terry Rozier
SG-Jaylen Brown
SF-Jayson Tatum
PF-Al Horford
C-Aron Baynes
MILWAUKEE
PG-Eric Bledsoe
SG-Khris Middleton
SF-Tony Snell
PF-Giannia Antetokounmpo
C-John Henson
Notable Bench Players-
BOSTON: Marcus Morris, Greg Monroe, Shane Larkin
MILWAUKEE: Jabari Parker, Malcolm Brogdon
X-Factors-
BOSTON
MILWAUKEE
Series Prediction:
Celtics in 6. The absence of Irving, Hayward and Smart leaves the door open for the Bucks. But Brad Stevens’ club will close it. Tatum and Brown have stepped up valiantly as legitimate scoring threats, while Rozier, Marcus Morris and Horford give the Celtics at least enough offensive potency to advance past a Milwaukee team that’s still a season or two away from taking the next step. The Cs have a deeper bench, a better coach, and more talent as a collective.
#celtsgang :larrylegendtowel:
@Jutt @ill @R.E.N. Spells Ren @VMR @vbamz @Raquinotj @KevJ @SchoolboyC @Bernie Madoff @JBone4eva @Stress Welker @Sub Kr4zy @unit321 @UpAndComing @Suiken @JLR Steez @craigsagersuit @insidious @Listen @fact @Codeine Fiend Dream Team @JarrodG @William Heavy @yamomzb @YeLovesBoston @Shamrock32 @coose @GrindtooFilthy @jimihendrixheadband @34TheTruth @JJ_ALL_DAY @patscorpio @chief_keef_stan @The Situation @Grano-Grano @Chef Mello @TyThePoet @KevCo @GOAT
Bucks brehs :KyrieStare:
@Tunez @FloorGeneral @ThaRealness @MushroomX @ThaRebel @Art Barr @Only On Camera
Playoff series schedule:
*Game 1 in Boston: Sunday, April 15, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
*Game 2 in Boston: Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
*Game 3 in Milwaukee: Friday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
*Game 4 in Milwaukee: Sunday, April 22, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
*Game 5 in Boston: TBA (if necessary)
*Game 6 in Milwaukee: TBA (if necessary)
*Game 7 in Boston: TBA (if necessary)
:celticsmjpls:
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shyt I don't even believe that
