Boston Celtics (40-20) at Milwaukee Bucks (26-33)Monday, March 2, 20267:30 PM ETTV: NBA-TV, NBCSB, FDSWIRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WTMJ (103..3), Sirius XMRegular Season Sport #61, Highway Sport #32Fiserv Discussion board
The Celtics go to the Milwaukee Bucks for the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Bucks received 116-101 in Milwaukee on December11 and the Celtics received 107-79 in Boston on February 1. They are going to play their remaining recreation in Milwaukee on April 13. Because of the in-season event, they face the anomaly of enjoying 3 occasions in Milwaukee and simply as soon as in Boston.
The Celtics received the collection 3-0 final season. They’re 122-113 total all time in opposition to the Bucks and they’re 44-73 in opposition to the Bucks all time in video games performed in Milwaukee. Each groups are enjoying within the second of again to again video games. The Bucks performed in Chicago on Sunday whereas the Celtics performed at house in opposition to the 76ers on Sunday.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1.5 video games forward of third place New York , 3 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 7 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and eight.5 video games forward of seventh place Orlando. The Celtics are 26-13 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents and 8-5 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’re 20-11 house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Bucks are eleventh within the East, 19 video games behind 1st place Detroit, 5 video games behind seventh place Orlando and eighth place Miami, 3.5 video games behind ninth place Atlanta 3 video games behind tenth place Charlotte. They’re 2 video games forward of twelfth place Chicago. They’re 19-21 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re 14-14 at house and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
After this recreation at Milwaukee, the Celtics are again house for video games in opposition to Charlotte and Dallas earlier than a troublesome 3 recreation highway journey by way of Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma Metropolis. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Subsequent, it’s one recreation at Memphis earlier than a 3 recreation house stand in opposition to Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta.
For Milwaukee, that is the primary recreation of a 5 recreation house stand. After the Celtics, they’ll host Atlanta, Utah, Orlando and Phoenix. Then they’re on the highway for video games at Miami and Atlanta earlier than internet hosting Indiana and Cleveland. Subsequent they’ve a 4 recreation western highway journey by way of Utah, Phoenix, the LA Clippers, and Portland earlier than returning house to host San Antonio, the Clippers and Dallas.
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum has been dominated out for this recreation however could also be near a return. Jaylen Brown (sickness) and Neemias Queta (relaxation) had been late scratches for this recreation and will likely be out. I’m taking a wild guess that Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza begin of their locations. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed the final 16 video games however has been cleared to play on this recreation. Taurean Prince is out after having neck surgical procedure. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is questionable as a result of an sickness.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Ryan Rollins
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Kevin Porter, Jr
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Kyle Kuzma
PF: Sam Hauser vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Luka Garza vs Myles Turner
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsNikola VucevicJordan Walsh2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaJohn TonjeInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (sickness) outNeemias Queta (relaxation) outHead CoachJoe MazzullaBucks ReservesThanasis AntetokounmpoOusmane DiengGary HarrisAndre Jackson, JrBobby Portis, JrCormac RyanJericho SimsCam ThomasGary Trent, Jr
Two-Manner PlayersAlex AntetokounmpoPete NanceInjuries/OutGiannis Antetokounmpo (calf) availableTaurean Prince (neck) outThanasis Antetokounmpo (sickness) questionableHead CoachDoc Rivers
Key Matchups Baylor Scheierman vs Kevin Porter, Jr.Porter is averaging 18.0 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a pair of.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 46.9% from the sector and 32.8% from past the arc. He didn’t play within the February 1 recreation in opposition to Boston and completed with 18 factors, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 60% from the sector and 33.3% from past the arc on December 11. They want to concentrate on him within the passing lanes as he’s a risk to steal the ball.
Sam Hauser vs Giannis AntetokounmpoGiannis is averaging 28 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists whereas taking pictures 64.5% from the sector and 39.5% from past the arc. He missed each of the video games between these groups thus far this season. He has been out for five weeks so he could also be a bit rusty however regardless, he makes them harder to beat. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Joe begin double bigs this recreation to counter the Bucks’ double bigs.Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Ryan Rollins Rollins is averaging 17.1 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 47.1% from the sector and 41.8% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 17.5 factors, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 51.3% from the sector and 62.5% from past the arc. Rollins is an efficient 3 level shooter and so the Celtics must defend him on the perimeter.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the largest key to successful. Protection actually does win championships. The Celtics are seventh with a defensive score of 112.1 The Bucks are twenty fourth with a defensive score of 116.7. Within the first recreation between these two video games the Celtics allowed the Bucks to shoot 58.2% from the sector and 44.8% from past the arc. The Celtics should work more durable on protection on this one and maintain their concentrate on the defensive finish in order to not permit any simple baskets for the Bucks. They particularly must defend the perimeter because the Bucks are 2nd within the league taking pictures 39.1% from past the arc as a group.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is all the time an enormous key to successful. As Pat Riley as soon as mentioned, “No rebounds, no rings.” The important thing to rebounding is effort and focus. The Celtics are 30-8 in video games that they tie or out-rebound opponents. They’re simply 9-12 in video games tin which they’re out-rebounded. The Bucks are twenty seventh with 41.1 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are seventh with 45.8 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics should combat to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Don’t Underestimate the Bucks – The Bucks do not need their finest participant and sometimes the Celtics calm down and understimate brief handed groups. Nonetheless, the Bucks are nonetheless a rival within the Japanese Convention that may play onerous. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for the complete recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics are third within the league, averaging 42.2 three pointers per recreation. They’re taking pictures 36.5% as a group from past the arc. The Bucks are thirteenth, averaging 37.7 threes a recreation and they’re 2nd within the league taking pictures 39.1% on threes as a group. The Celtics make 15.4 threes a recreation whereas the Bucks make 14.7 thees a recreation. The Celtics must work to get open and transfer the ball to seek out one of the best photographs. If the three’s aren’t falling, they should take the ball inside. And they should defend the perimeter or the Bucks will bury them in 3s.
X-FactorsBack to Again On the Highway – The Celtics are on the highway and so can have the distractions of journey, staying in motels, and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. They should keep centered and never permit any of these distractions to remove from enjoying their recreation. Each groups are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games and so fatigue might consider for each groups. Traditionally, the Celtics are simply 44-73 in Milwaukee. They should keep centered and play onerous and never let up.
Teaching – Doc Rivers coached the Celtics from 2004 till 2013 and stop when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to begin a rebuild. The Celtics had a comparatively brief rebuild and have been largely profitable since he left. Doc has struggled in every of his stops with the Clippers, 76ers and now the Bucks. Doc would love nothing greater than to beat his former group whereas Joe simply needs to beat everyone, regardless of who they’re.
Officiating – The officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house group and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the court docket. And typically the refs are merely dangerous. The Celtics should play by way of nonetheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their concentrate on the sport.
