After enjoying 6 video games in 9 days and successful 5 video games in a row, the Celtics had three days off earlier than their matchup in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. This recreation had each making of turning into a lure recreation for the Celtics to lose and that got here to fruition sadly as Boston misplaced to a Giannis-less Milwaukee workforce 116-101. It was a irritating recreation to look at throughout however the Celtics simply completely misplaced management of the sport within the second half. Between terrible shot choice and no potential to get stops, Boston misplaced to a workforce led by Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis in 2025, which was type of embarrassing.
2. Terrible second half shot choice
On the finish of the primary half the Celtics completed with a 67-60 lead and as a workforce shot 22/42 (52%) from the sphere and 11/23 (48%) from three level vary. Then within the third quarter, Boston utterly forgot tips on how to play offense as they scored solely 13 factors on 4-22 FG (18%) and 0-12 from three and the fourth quarter wasn’t significantly better as they shot 8-24 (33%) FG and 3-14 from three. The Bucks weren’t enjoying smothering protection or something both, the Celtics had been simply lacking extensive open pictures. Wanting on the shot chart, Boston actually began to get three level heavy and none of them had been falling. That is what actually led to their downfall as Milwaukee on the opposite finish was hitting every thing they put up.
Lots of the Celtics second half possessions had been lots like this the place Payton Pritchard put up a 3 after one cross usually from Jaylen Brown, then after the miss somebody would rebound the ball by Boston as they’d 13 offensive rebounds within the recreation, then the following particular person like Derrick White would chuck up the primary shot they obtained out of the rebound. As you may see, they’re extensive open pictures, Boston simply couldn’t capitalize on any alternative that Milwaukee was giving them and it led to the loss.
3. No potential to get stops
You’ll assume because the Celtics had an incapacity to make pictures on offense, absolutely their protection would be capable to step up on the opposite finish proper? The reply was no. The Milwaukee Bucks shot 58% from the sphere and 45% from three as a workforce on this recreation and shot 63% from the sphere and 58% from three within the second half alone. Their shot chart seemed loopy as every thing they put up, went in. The gamers that had been killing them essentially the most was Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis who mixed for 58 factors.
Bobby Portis had a season excessive 27 factors right this moment on ridiculous effectivity, 11-13 FG and 5-6 3PM. Portis was dwelling on the block as he had a number of pictures the place he backed down the smaller defender and hit a fadeaway jumper. This one was over Jaylen Brown and was an instance of the insane pictures he was hitting.
One other Portis shot that killed the Celtics had been two quarter threes to start the fourth quarter. These had been each over Neemias Queta who had a stable closeout but it surely wasn’t sufficient to cease Bobby Portis’ sizzling taking pictures.
Kyle Kuzma did a number of harm to Boston beginning within the first half the place he had 18 of his 31 factors. He did a number of driving downhill on the Celtics and his momentum was not sufficient for Boston to cease. This play the place he barreled over Brown to get an and-1 layup is an instance of his fashion of play on this recreation as a complete.
Going into this recreation the Bucks had been statistically the worst rebounding workforce within the NBA as they common 39.1 rebounds per recreation as a workforce they usually out-rebounded the Celtics 40-39. Now this isn’t an enormous disparity or something as Boston was really fairly nice on the offensive glass with 13 offensive rebounds (largely as a result of they stored lacking pictures), however permitting the worst rebounding workforce within the NBA beat you on the boards is a troublesome seen.
5. At the very least Celtics obtained free throws?
Coming into this recreation the Celtics had the bottom free throws tried per recreation within the NBA at 18.8 FTA. Nonetheless, Boston did a fairly good job at attending to the free throw line on this recreation as they had been capable of get 25 free throw makes an attempt and made 19 of them. In the event you take a look at each groups cumulative FTA differential this season the Celtics rank useless final and are behind nearly each workforce within the NBA, besides the Bucks satirically. This is likely one of the few positives I can take away from this recreation for Boston because the outcomes of the second half didn’t give me lots to select from.
6. One other 30-point recreation for Jaylen Brown
For the seventh time in his final 8 video games, Jaylen Brown has scored 30+ factors in a recreation. Though the Celtics misplaced, Brown performed fairly properly as he completed with 30 factors on 10-17 FG and 2-4 3PM. The Bucks did their finest to double Brown as a lot as they might however when he obtained an opportunity one-on-one, he was capable of reap the benefits of it.
Brown had an unimaginable first quarter as he completed with 13 factors on 5-5 taking pictures and he was getting wherever he needed on the court docket. This shot to finish the primary quarter was lovely as he was capable of shake off Jericho Sims with a nasty cross over right into a midrange jumper on the buzzer.
After a scoreless second quarter, Brown tried his finest to finish the Celtics gradual taking pictures within the second half with a number of baskets. His finest try got here within the 4th quarter when Boston was nonetheless technically in putting distance. Brown had Kuzma on an island and hit a nasty step again three to provide him his thirtieth factors of the night time.
7. Jordan Walsh continues to be superior
Though it was a nightmare recreation for the Celtics as a complete, Jordan Walsh continued to play nice basketball. Walsh completed with 20 factors, 8 rebounds and three steals whereas taking pictures 8-10 FG and 3-4 3PM. Walsh had an unimaginable first half as he was an ideal 7-7 taking pictures on an insane 121% TS%. This was an ideal signal to see from Walsh as he was aggressive when it got here to taking the extensive open pictures the protection was giving him.
The perfect instance of this aggressiveness got here within the first quarter the place Brown drove into the lane and Walsh referred to as for the ball within the nook. Brown made the cross and Walsh splashed his second three of the sport to that time.
One other one in every of my favourite baskets of the night time from Walsh got here on this play the place Derrick White missed a 3. Hugo Gonzalez was capable of tip the ball again up into the air for Walsh who was capable of muscle his means inside and multi functional movement was capable of end the layup for an and-1.
Walsh has continued to impress everybody in Celtics nation and he’s actually shaping right into a reputable throughout piece for Boston that they will use for years to come back.
8. Sam Hauser Nightmare Sport
In what was alleged to be a homecoming recreation for Sam Hauser, it shortly become a nightmare as he had perhaps the worst recreation of his complete profession. Hauser completed with 0 factors and seven rebounds on 0-10 FG and 0-9 3PM. I’ve by no means seen Hauser play this badly in my life as nearly each shot he took was extensive open and for some motive wasn’t moving into.
There isn’t a greater approach to symbolize his recreation tonight than with this 20 second sequence the place he missed a large open three that was rebounded by Queta on the 9:50 mark of the 4th quarter. Then he obtained a second probability to redeem himself with one other extensive open three on the 9:41 mark that was rebounded once more by the Celtics. Lastly this nightmare possession ended but it surely was with Hauser reducing from the nook and utterly whiffing on a large open layup on the 9:30 mark.
This was a tough recreation throughout from Hauser who’s having his worst three level taking pictures season of his profession proper now at 34%. He has by no means shot under 40% from three in a season since highschool so I’ve religion he’s going to bounce again, however it’s robust to see him battle like this.
9. Reminiscing on the outdated days
Watching this recreation actually made me miss when Boston vs Milwaukee was an actual rivalry round 2018-2023. Each recreation felt like a playoff recreation and it felt like there have been reputable stakes within the standings in each matchup. Now the Bucks may be buying and selling Giannis Antetokounmpo. Tonight made me miss the height of the rivalry within the 2022 playoffs. Jayson Tatum dropped 46 factors in Sport 6 to drive a Sport 7 again in Boston the place Grant Williams had the sport of his life hitting 7 threes to advance the to the Jap Convention Finals. Who is aware of if the heights of this rivalry will ever be reached once more however its enjoyable to reminisce on the nice instances after an terrible efficiency.
General, it is a recreation that you just simply must throw away the movie of if you happen to’re the Celtics. A basic lure recreation that no one may actually take any positives away from. That they had three days off in between their final recreation they usually play the Pistons again residence of their subsequent recreation. It is a nice matchup in opposition to a very good workforce that they beat earilier within the season so it could be a good time to have a bounce again recreation.
Sadly, it’s on one other three days relaxation as the sport will likely be performed on Monday December fifteenth at 7pm. This lengthy break within the schedule is as a result of NBA Cup this weekend. Hopefully this time the Celtics can play higher coming off of three days relaxation vs the Pistons however I suppose solely time will inform.
