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 towards the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. This sport had each making of changing into a lure sport for the Celtics to lose and that got here to fruition sadly as Boston misplaced to a Giannis-less Milwaukee staff 116-101. It was a irritating sport to look at throughout however the Celtics simply completely misplaced management of the sport within the second half. Between terrible shot choice and no capability to get stops, Boston misplaced to a staff led by Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis in 2025, which was form 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 staff shot 22/42 (52%) from the sector and 11/23 (48%) from three level vary. Then within the third quarter, Boston fully forgot learn 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 a lot 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 have been simply lacking large open photographs. Trying on the shot chart, Boston actually began to get three level heavy and none of them have been falling. That is what actually led to their downfall as Milwaukee on the opposite finish was hitting all the things they put up.
A number of the Celtics second half possessions have been loads like this the place Payton Pritchard put up a 3 after one go usually from Jaylen Brown, then after the miss somebody would rebound the ball by Boston as they’d 13 offensive rebounds within the sport, then the subsequent individual like Derrick White would chuck up the primary shot they received out of the rebound. As you’ll be able to see, they’re large open photographs, Boston simply couldn’t capitalize on any alternative that Milwaukee was giving them and it led to the loss.
3. No capability to get stops
You’d assume for the reason that Celtics had an lack of ability to make photographs 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 sector and 45% from three as a staff on this sport and shot 63% from the sector and 58% from three within the second half alone. Their shot chart regarded loopy as all the things they put up, went in. The gamers that have been killing them probably the most was Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis who mixed for 58 factors.
Bobby Portis had a season excessive 27 factors at the moment on ridiculous effectivity, 11-13 FG and 5-6 3PM. Portis was dwelling on the block as he had a number of photographs 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 photographs he was hitting.
One other Portis shot that killed the Celtics have been two quarter threes to start the fourth quarter. These have been each over Neemias Queta who had a stable closeout nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to cease Bobby Portis’ scorching taking pictures.
Kyle Kuzma did a variety of harm to Boston beginning within the first half the place he had 18 of his 31 factors. He did a variety 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 type of play on this sport as a complete.
Going into this sport the Bucks have been statistically the worst rebounding staff within the NBA as they common 39.1 rebounds per sport as a staff 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 saved lacking photographs), however permitting the worst rebounding staff within the NBA beat you on the boards is a troublesome seen.
5. No less than Celtics received free throws?
Coming into this sport the Celtics had the bottom free throws tried per sport within the NBA at 18.8 FTA. Nonetheless, Boston did a reasonably good job at attending to the free throw line on this sport as they have been capable of get 25 free throw makes an attempt and made 19 of them. For those who have a look at each groups cumulative FTA differential this season the Celtics rank useless final and are behind nearly each staff within the NBA, besides the Bucks mockingly. This is likely one of the few positives I can take away from this sport for Boston because the outcomes of the second half didn’t give me loads to select from.
6. One other 30-point sport for Jaylen Brown
For the seventh time in his final 8 video games, Jaylen Brown has scored 30+ factors in a sport. Though the Celtics misplaced, Brown performed fairly effectively 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 received an opportunity one-on-one, he was capable of benefit from it.
Brown had an unbelievable first quarter as he completed with 13 factors on 5-5 taking pictures and he was getting wherever he wished 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 couple 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 sport 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 unbelievable first half as he was an ideal 7-7 taking pictures on an insane 121% TS%. This was an awesome signal to see from Walsh as he was aggressive when it got here to taking the large open photographs the protection was giving him.
The very best instance of this aggressiveness got here within the first quarter the place Brown drove into the lane and Walsh known as for the ball within the nook. Brown made the go and Walsh splashed his second three of the sport to that time.
One other one among 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 manner inside and multi function 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 authentic throughout piece for Boston that they’ll use for years to return.
8. Sam Hauser Nightmare Sport
In what was speculated to be a homecoming sport for Sam Hauser, it shortly changed into a nightmare as he had possibly the worst sport of his whole 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 large open and for some motive wasn’t stepping into.
There isn’t a greater technique to signify his sport 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 received a second probability to redeem himself with one other large open three on the 9:41 mark that was rebounded once more by the Celtics. Lastly this nightmare possession ended nevertheless it was with Hauser slicing from the nook and fully whiffing on a large open layup on the 9:30 mark.
This was a tough sport 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 beneath 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 previous days
Watching this sport actually made me miss when Boston vs Milwaukee was an actual rivalry round 2018-2023. Each sport felt like a playoff sport and it felt like there have been authentic 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 power a Sport 7 again in Boston the place Grant Williams had the sport of his life hitting 7 threes to advance the to the Japanese 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 occasions after an terrible efficiency.
General, this can be a sport that you just simply must throw away the movie of in case you’re the Celtics. A basic lure sport that no one may actually take any positives away from. That they had three days off in between their final sport they usually play the Pistons again residence of their subsequent sport. It is a nice matchup towards staff that they beat earilier within the season so it might be a good time to have a bounce again sport.
Sadly, it’s on one other three days relaxation as the sport can be performed on Monday December fifteenth at 7pm. This lengthy break within the schedule is because of the 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.
