1. Know-how is enjoying video games at the moment, so no clips. We’re simply going to riff right here for a bit and see how issues movement.
The Boston Celtics destroyed the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday evening. It was as large of a highlight as the 2 groups have had since their Christmas Day matchup. It was the one sport being performed at its timeslot on Thursday, and one among solely two video games on the evening. Being the early sport, that meant all NBA eyes had been on Celtics-Bucks.
Very like they did on Christmas, Boston rolled over Milwaukee with little situation. After about halfway via the primary quarter, the Celtics had the sport in hand. And there was no letup both.
It may not make the distinction in catching Milwaukee for the one seed within the Japanese Convention, nevertheless it was a win Boston wanted. If nothing else, they wanted to remind everybody, themselves included, that the East runs via Boston, homecourt benefit or not.
Mission achieved.
Jaylen Brown carried the Celtics early. After setting the tempo and an excellent lead, Brown handed the baton to Jayson Tatum. Tatum principally completed off Milwaukee early sufficient to permit Boston to sail via the ultimate a part of the sport.
But it surely wasn’t simply the celebs, superior as they each had been. And so they had been a lot superior.
Al Horford bounced again from a troublesome evening with a giant evening He’s a key towards Milwaukee, as a result of if he’s hitting photographs, the Bucks enjoying drop protection is principally shot. That brings Brook Lopez as much as the extent of the ball, and that’s when you possibly can assault the rim.
Malcolm Brogdon performed effectively towards his former staff, as he did a little bit little bit of every thing. It was one among Brogdon’s higher defensive video games shortly. It’s not simply the 4 steals, even when these had been good, however Brogdon was in the precise spots all sport lengthy. He held his personal towards each guards and bigs, and that’s an excellent signal for upcoming playoff matchups.
Rob Williams raises each the Celtics ground and their ceiling. That’s a uncommon mixture, however that’s how particular he’s. Whether or not it was apparating to the paint to shock Jrue Vacation on a layup try, or blocking a Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk try, Williams made stuff occur on protection. On offense, he was in every single place, and it positive felt like had greater than 4 offensive rebounds.
Marcus Good ran the offense to perfection. He shot when he was open, however largely targeted on pushing tempo and getting his guys simple appears to be like. On three completely different events, Good discovered Jaylen Brown via the backdoor on what has turn out to be a staple of Boston’s offense.
Joe Mazzulla had an excellent sport too. With Boston beginning small, Mazzulla put Good on Antetokounmpo. That had the Bucks offense out of rhythm. They went away from a few of their traditional stuff to try to assault that mismatch. As everyone knows by now, it’s probably not a mismatch to be attacked.
The change additionally allowed Horford to come back as the additional measurement on the rim when Antetokounmpo drove. That’s key, particularly with Boston smaller. And Boston continuously had perimeter gamers digging down with double-teams at any time when Antetokounmpo went to his spin collection close to the paint.
Mazzulla additionally did an excellent job of largely enjoying Rob Williams when Lopez was off the ground. That compelled Lopez to protect a shooter always. That gave Boston a whole lot of beauty or pulled Lopez out of the paint for drives. As well as, when Williams was in, he was capable of have a big impact across the rim on each ends of the ground, as a result of Lopez wasn’t on the market.
Throughout, this was an excellent evening for the Celtics. And it was a wanted one.
Following the sport, Giannis Antetokounmpo summed it up greatest:
“It’s not laborious to know: If you happen to’re not targeted, for those who don’t play laborious, they’re going to kick our ass. Easy as that,” Antetokounmpo stated. “There’s no degree of concern. It’s a reality.”
That quote might have come from any variety of Celtics, from coaches to gamers. As a matter of reality, some model of that quote has been stated by any variety of Celtics, from coaches to gamers.
When the Celtics are targeted, engaged and play with effort, they’re one of the best staff within the NBA.
Really, let’s go a step additional: when the Celtics are targeted, engaged and play with effort, they’re one of the best staff within the NBA, and it’s not notably shut.
The problem has been with that focus, engagement and energy coming and going. Possibly it’s so simple as not respecting sure opponents, giving them hope after which being unable to determine it out. That’s the way you get your tails kicked by an undermanned Wizards staff. Protecting it clear, however the NBA actually is a good instance of “F*** round, discover out”. Disrespect your opponent and the sport, and you may be punished for it.
Within the playoffs, Boston will in all probability solely see groups they must respect. That’s an excellent factor, as a result of it means we’ll get one of the best Celtics. Those who present up targeted, engaged and play with nice effort. These Celtics will carry dwelling Banner 18, regardless of the place they must go to win these video games. We’ve seen it earlier than, and we had been reminded of it on Thursday.
Boston will get proper again at it on Friday evening, as they traveled dwelling to face the Utah Jazz on a back-to-back. Will that focus, engagement and energy carry over towards a weakened opponent? Solely time will inform. But it surely’s protected to say that it would probably not matter. The Celtics are targeted on greater issues. Till then, the remainder is simply prologue. The true story begins in about two weeks. And we’re all nearly prepared to show that web page.