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 may play their last recreation in Milwaukee on April 13. As a result of in-season match, they face the anomaly of taking part in 3 occasions in Milwaukee and simply as soon as in Boston.
The Celtics received the collection 3-0 final season. They’re 122-113 general all time towards the Bucks and they’re 44-73 towards the Bucks all time in video games performed in Milwaukee. Each groups are taking part in within the second of again to again video games. The Bucks performed in Chicago on Sunday whereas the Celtics performed at residence towards 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 towards Jap Convention opponents and 8-5 towards the Atlantic Division. They’re 20-11 residence 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 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 14-14 at residence 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 residence for video games towards Charlotte and Dallas earlier than a tricky 3 recreation highway journey via 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 residence stand towards Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta.
For Milwaukee, that is the primary recreation of a 5 recreation residence stand. After the Celtics, they are going to 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 via Utah, Phoenix, the LA Clippers, and Portland earlier than returning residence 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) have 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 attributable to 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 capturing 46.9% from the sphere and 32.8% from past the arc. He didn’t play within the February 1 recreation towards Boston and completed with 18 factors, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 60% from the sphere and 33.3% from past the arc on December 11. They want to concentrate on him within the passing lanes as he’s a menace to steal the ball.
Sam Hauser vs Giannis AntetokounmpoGiannis is averaging 28 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5.6 assists whereas capturing 64.5% from the sphere and 39.5% from past the arc. He missed each of the video games between these groups to this point this season. He has been out for five weeks so he could also be a bit rusty however regardless, he makes them more durable 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 capturing 47.1% from the sphere and 41.8% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games towards the Celtics this season he averaged 17.5 factors, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation whereas capturing 51.3% from the sphere and 62.5% from past the arc. Rollins is an effective 3 level shooter and so the Celtics have to defend him on the perimeter.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times the most important 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 sphere and 44.8% from past the arc. The Celtics should work more durable on protection on this one and preserve their give attention to the defensive finish in order to not enable any simple baskets for the Bucks. They particularly have to defend the perimeter because the Bucks are 2nd within the league capturing 39.1% from past the arc as a workforce.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is at all times 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 need to combat to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Don’t Underestimate the Bucks – The Bucks wouldn’t have their greatest participant and infrequently the Celtics calm down and understimate quick handed groups. Nonetheless, the Bucks are nonetheless a rival within the Jap Convention that may play arduous. The Celtics have to provide max effort on the boards and on protection they usually have to provide that effort for the whole recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics are third within the league, averaging 42.2 three pointers per recreation. They’re capturing 36.5% as a workforce from past the arc. The Bucks are thirteenth, averaging 37.7 threes a recreation and they’re 2nd within the league capturing 39.1% on threes as a workforce. The Celtics make 15.4 threes a recreation whereas the Bucks make 14.7 thees a recreation. The Celtics have to work to get open and transfer the ball to search out the perfect pictures. 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 may have the distractions of journey, staying in inns, and taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd. They should keep targeted and never enable any of these distractions to remove from taking part in their recreation. Each groups are taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games and so fatigue could think about for each groups. Traditionally, the Celtics are simply 44-73 in Milwaukee. They should keep targeted and play arduous and never let up.
Teaching – Doc Rivers coached the Celtics from 2004 till 2013 and give up when the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to start out a rebuild. The Celtics had a comparatively quick 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 workforce whereas Joe simply needs to beat everyone, regardless of who they’re.
Officiating – The officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce 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 unhealthy. The Celtics need to play via 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 enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their give attention to the sport.
