1. Dominant Defensive Efficiency
The Celtics held the Bucks to solely 79 factors, the bottom level complete {that a} crew has completed with in opposition to Boston this season. The earlier low was 90 factors in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans on October twenty seventh. After permitting 26 factors within the first quarter, Boston solely allowed 16 within the second, 19 within the third, and 18 within the fourth quarter.
When requested postgame if Joe Mazzulla modified any a part of his protection after the primary quarter, he mentioned that they have been simply taking part in “just a little bit extra bodily” however nothing else modified a complete lot. He highlighted the Bucks taking pictures 5-8 from three within the first quarter which is over their common three level proportion and that led to the defensive physicality going up and the Bucks taking pictures 5-26 from past the arc for the remainder of the sport.
2. Jaylen Brown Huge Second Half
For the twenty sixth time this season, Jaylen Brown has scored 30+ factors in a recreation, ending with 30 factors and 13 rebounds on 12-20 taking pictures from the sphere and 4-6 from three. A variety of Brown’s influence got here within the second half, scoring 22 of his 30 factors and actually iced the sport early with a few large runs.
After scoring 8 factors within the first half, Brown completed the third quarter with 12 factors. Brown operated flawlessly within the midrange and scored the Celtics first 7 factors of the second half. He began with a wonderful jumper over Kyle Kuzma on the baseline, then hit a large open pull up jumper coming off a Neemias Queta display, and eventually he ended his midrange mastery with an And-1 jumper over Ryan Rollins. Brown wasn’t achieved within the third quarter nonetheless, splashing a 3 and drawing a goaltending in opposition to Myles Turner.
Transferring on to the fourth quarter, the Bucks have been on a 9-0 run halfway by way of the quarter and lower the Celtics result in 19. That was when Brown began one other scoring tear, occurring a private 10-0 run to ice the sport for Boston.
He began the run with a pleasant driving layup on Ryan Rollins. Then he moved on to a large open three pointer on the wing. The following basket got here off of a missed shot by Brown, however Queta made a pleasant save earlier than it went out of bounds and he was capable of get a second likelihood and make a simple layup. The ultimate basket felt just like the dagger on this recreation as Derrick White made a pleasant cross court docket cross to Brown for a large open nook three, a Bucks timeout, and a loud cheer by the TD Backyard crowd.
3. Anfernee Simons Big First Quarter
Anfernee Simons had an awesome recreation in opposition to the Bucks, ending with 27 factors taking pictures 10-18 from the sphere and 6-10 from three. That is the ninth time this season that Simons has scored over 20 factors off of the bench this season and on this recreation he had an offensive explosion within the final 2:25 of the primary quarter, scoring 11 straight factors.
Simons started his offensive explosion with getting Gary Trent Jr. on an island and making a straight line drive to the basket for a layup. Subsequent, Derrick White received a steal and located Simons extensive open on the quick break for 3. The third basket was arguably his greatest play of the evening. Guarded by Pete Nance, Simons hit him with a nasty crossover and hit a step again three in his face. Lastly for ultimate bucket of the quarter, he shot a warmth verify three over Amir Coffey on the buzzer to tie the sport.
If this was Anfernee Simons’ final recreation in TD Backyard, he certain did exit with a bang and to a standing ovation from the TD Backyard trustworthy as he checked out of the sport.
4. Derrick White Nice Offensive Efficiency
In a season with some offensive inconsistency from Derrick White, this recreation was one among his higher all-around video games this 12 months. White completed with 17 factors, 8 assists, and seven rebounds on 6-14 taking pictures and you would really feel the influence that he made along with his scoring and playmaking.
After hitting two threes within the first quarter, White began to search out his groove with two buckets within the second quarter and one within the third. Within the final minute of the second quarter, White hit Myles Turner with a pleasant crossover and completed a layup over a very good contest. The following basket had AJ Inexperienced on an island and White hit a pull up midrange jumper over him. Lastly, across the begin of the third quarter, he had one other good mid vary jumper, getting extensive open on unhealthy protection by Kyle Kuzma.
Out of White’s eight assists, I’d say he had three that basically have been actually spectacular. The primary got here within the first quarter off of a stolen cross by White the place he discovered Anfernee Simons on the quick break for a 3. The second got here in fourth quarter the place he drew the eye of three Bucks gamers and was capable of finding Neemias Queta extensive open for a hook shot. Lastly, White made a cross court docket cross to Brown who was extensive open within the nook for 3 to seal the victory for the Celtics.
5. Neemias Queta vs. Myles Turner
One battle that I used to be listening to on this recreation was Neemias Queta in opposition to Myles Turner. Queta was coming off of a dominant efficiency in opposition to the Sacramento Kings and I assumed that with the missing inside presence that Myles Turner presents, he might feast. My principle was confirmed right on this case with Queta ending with 14 factors and eight rebounds on 7-10 taking pictures whereas Turner completed with solely 7 factors and 4 rebounds on 2-8 taking pictures.
The primary bucket he had got here on play the place he faked a handoff to Brown and turned the nook for an enormous slam that Turner simply let occur as a result of he wasn’t paying consideration. Subsequent one got here when Queta was streaking down the court docket and took Turner one-on-one beneath the basket. After a number of pump fakes, he was capable of hit a pleasant hook shot. The third got here within the second quarter when Jordan Walsh was slicing to the basket, Turner determined to double him on the baseline and was late to contest Queta who hit a large open shot. Lastly, Pritchard made a pleasant bounce cross to Queta beneath the basket that he was capable of end with a reverse layup over Turner.
6. Jordan Walsh Power Performs
Jordan Walsh’s ultimate stat-line of 6 factors, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block on 2-6 taking pictures may not look spectacular however should you watched the sport you’ll know the way a lot of a menace he was on the Bucks all evening lengthy.
Beginning with the 2 baskets Walsh made, each of them have been an occasion that he was capable of make one thing out of nothing. The primary got here on a cross from Brown who wasn’t meaning to cross it to Walsh, however it ended up with on the perimeter. To avoid wasting the play, Walsh pump faked a large open three that Pete Nance bit on and drove to the basket to complete a tricky layup. The second bucket he scored was an analogous driving layup over Nance that he completed with an and-1.
Walsh’s rebounding was the large story nonetheless, as all 5 of his rebounds on the evening got here as offensive rebounds. These have been the highlights of his hustle play on this recreation and was an enormous cause why the Celtics gained the rebounding battle.
7. Hugo Gonzalez Defensive Impression
Hugo Gonzalez completed with 0 factors on this recreation so you’ll suppose there isn’t something to speak about along with his efficiency however I actually preferred the way in which he performed on this recreation. He additionally had 5 rebounds and a couple of steals and much like Jordan Walsh, Hugo was terrorizing the Bucks on protection, making the additional effort.
His 2 steals on this recreation have been some nice performs, the primary approaching a play the place Ryan Rollins air mailed a cross that Hugo was monitoring like Christian Gonzalez on the Patriots, and began a quick break. The second got here within the fourth quarter the place White back-tapped Kyle Kuzma. Gonzalez ran with the steal and located Derrick Whtie who ended up getting fouled on his shot try. Hugo had a pair miscues on offense on this recreation that might have given him some straightforward baskets, however in 17 minutes that have been performed, he was a +11 general, showcasing his optimistic influence.
8. Bucks Dominated within the Paint
With out Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks actually don’t have any presence beneath neath the basket and it confirmed within the factors within the paint battle. Boston outscored them 42-28 and with Milwaukee’s three level taking pictures falling off a cliff all through the sport, that was the largest outlier for his or her loss. Not solely did they get manhandled there, they misplaced the rebounding battle as nicely. The Celtics out-rebounded the Bucks 52-40 and 17 of Boston’s rebounded have been on the offensive facet. Only a dominant paint efficiency by the Celtics.
9. Constructive Help-Turnover Ratio
After solely turning the ball over 7 instances in opposition to Sacramento on Friday, Boston continued their streak of limiting turnovers with solely 9 in opposition to Milwaukee whereas forcing 10 in opposition to the Bucks. That is enormous for the Celtics as a result of turnovers have been an enormous deal in a whole lot of Boston’s losses so the face they have been restricted at present was nice. Not solely have been the Celtics nice with the turnovers, however additionally they completed with 24 assists on the evening. A variety of these assists resulted in extensive open pictures because the Bucks protection was a step behind the Celtics on what felt like each possession. If Boston shot even just a little bit higher than the 15-42 (36%) from three, the Celtics in all probability win this recreation by 50 factors.
10. Pioneers Basic Champs
The Bucks vs Celtics recreation at present was the Pioneers Basic Sport celebrating the seventy fifth anniversary of the NBA’s first black gamers Chuck Cooper, Earl Llyod, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton. Cooper made historical past with the Celtics, changing into the primary black participant to get drafted to the NBA within the second spherical of the 1950 NBA Draft. Cooper is within the Basketball Corridor of Fame and performed 6 seasons within the NBA, 4 of which with the Boston Celtics but additionally with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks and the Fort Wayne Pistons. Boston additionally honored different legends on this recreation, together with the households of Invoice Russell, Tom “Satch” Sanders, Okay.C. Jones, and Sam Jones.
Boston was in a position dominate Milwaukee all evening lengthy, profitable 107-79 and receiving the inaugural Pioneers Basic Trophy. Jaylen Brown was given the trophy in his postgame interview and mentioned “What an honor to have the ability to have a good time the legacy of the those that got here earlier than us.”
