Eastern Conference | Round 2 | (2) Boston Celtics VS. (3) Milwaukee Bucks (TIED 2-2)

[Pachinko_]

This is about the 4th post I've seen from Bucks fans saying this.

As a Celtic fan, this series ain't even close to being over.

this is nothing, you should see us before the title
we're just naturally pessimistic

[Los_29]

Al Horford is going to get the super max if he keeps playing like this.

[Miami_Lux]

It feels wrong to say this with the Bucks missing Middleton, but the odds were really stacked against the Celtics tonight. Time Lord was a late scratch, the refs' calls have been favoring the Bucks for most of the series, they were on the road, and Tony Brothers (whom the C's almost always lose games with) is reffing the game. Yet they won a gritty fight. Couldn't be prouder of this team after it really seemed like the Bucks' physicality was breaking them down.

Al Horford should retire a Celtic.

What is it with the narrative of the Celtics overcoming this imaginary hurdle and odds are stacked against them. Celtics are the better team by a solid margin with Middleton being out. If Middleton was playing I would give the Bucks the edge.

Also Robert Williams is not Dennis Rodman re-incarnated. He is a great defender and valuable role player with very limited offensive skills. In my opinion him being in or out of the lineup is not really tipping the scale either way.

PS: I know Celts fan will jump on my Robert Williams take. But remember guys its just an opinion

[Ill News]

It feels wrong to say this with the Bucks missing Middleton, but the odds were really stacked against the Celtics tonight. Time Lord was a late scratch, the refs' calls have been favoring the Bucks for most of the series, they were on the road, and Tony Brothers (whom the C's almost always lose games with) is reffing the game. Yet they won a gritty fight. Couldn't be prouder of this team after it really seemed like the Bucks' physicality was breaking them down.

Al Horford should retire a Celtic.

What is it with the narrative of the Celtics overcoming this imaginary hurdle and odds are stacked against them. Celtics are the better team by a solid margin with Middleton being out. If Middleton was playing I would give the Bucks the edge.

Also Robert Williams is not Dennis Rodman re-incarnated. He is a great defender and valuable role player with very limited offensive skills. In my opinion him being in or out of the lineup is not really tipping the scale either way.

PS: I know Celts fan will jump on my Robert Williams take. But remember guys its just an opinion

Because they still have Giannis. Simply having the best player in the league can make up for your team's shortcomings a lot. Just look at what LeBron did to the East for nearly a decade.

And it's been an extremely physical series that really favors the Bucks. Tatum's been bothered by the physicality until he played like a superstar tonight.

To sum up, yes, the Celtics should still be favored with Middleton out but NOT by a solid margin. That's doing Giannis, the 2x MVP and FMVP, a huge disservice. I mean, the Celtics have the best defense in the league and they're still struggling to contain him.

[Fencer reregistered]

Series of attrition. Horford is not guaranteed to be able to keep doing this. Every Celtics starter except perhaps Horford is dealing with lingering health issues; one of them actually missed the game. Celtics have been getting elbowed in the head a lot; I hope there won't be repercussions from that.

No doubt there are similar stories on the Bucks side too.

[th87]

This could be the turning point of the series and it will be really unfortunate for the Bucks if it’s because Horford turned into a prime Dirk Nowitzki. That is stuff you just can’t game plan for.

Tatum and Smart were also brilliant in the 4th. Excellent execution with a healthy dose of unsustainable shooting from them. They deserved this win tonight.

Wes Matthews alluded to the problem post game. They did this two games in a row. Blowing leads.

Hill can't get switched onto Tatum.

Bucks need to move the ball on every possession. Smart plays, high percentage shots.

Are we all dumb and don't know basketball or something? It seems so obvious that's the remedy, but for some reason, they refuse to do it.

How are handsomely paid professionals still not aware that Giannis shooting early 3s is bad? Just blows my mind.

[HiDef]

It feels wrong to say this with the Bucks missing Middleton, but the odds were really stacked against the Celtics tonight. Time Lord was a late scratch, the refs' calls have been favoring the Bucks for most of the series, they were on the road, and Tony Brothers (whom the C's almost always lose games with) is reffing the game. Yet they won a gritty fight. Couldn't be prouder of this team after it really seemed like the Bucks' physicality was breaking them down.

Al Horford should retire a Celtic.

What is it with the narrative of the Celtics overcoming this imaginary hurdle and odds are stacked against them. Celtics are the better team by a solid margin with Middleton being out. If Middleton was playing I would give the Bucks the edge.

Also Robert Williams is not Dennis Rodman re-incarnated. He is a great defender and valuable role player with very limited offensive skills. In my opinion him being in or out of the lineup is not really tipping the scale either way.

PS: I know Celts fan will jump on my Robert Williams take. But remember guys its just an opinion

RW3 has been shaky in the series but replacing his minutes with Theis going 0/5 and -10 in 10 minutes of action is brutal.

Middleton obviously is a huge loss but RW3 not being healthy has also hurt Boston. With all the punishment he's been taking the wheels really started to fall off for him.

[AussieCeltic]

This could be the turning point of the series and it will be really unfortunate for the Bucks if it’s because Horford turned into a prime Dirk Nowitzki. That is stuff you just can’t game plan for.

Tatum and Smart were also brilliant in the 4th. Excellent execution with a healthy dose of unsustainable shooting from them. They deserved this win tonight.

Wes Matthews alluded to the problem post game. They did this two games in a row. Blowing leads.

Hill can't get switched onto Tatum.

Bucks need to move the ball on every possession. Smart plays, high percentage shots.

Are we all dumb and don't know basketball or something? It seems so obvious that's the remedy, but for some reason, they refuse to do it.

How are handsomely paid professionals still not aware that Giannis shooting early 3s is bad? Just blows my mind.

I love it when Giannis takes 3s. I know they say he does it to keep the defence honest, but Celtics won’t change the way they defend him even if he makes 4 in a row. Once per game he brings it down and shoots a 3 straight away for some reason. It’s like he wants to prove a point that he can shoot.

[Perseus1966]

You cant expect to win if you let Al and Smart to score 50 pts .
Next game now .

[Coach Carter]

When we went up 10, I knew Boston would come back. We just don't have someone that can take care of the ball, whilst our best shooter is out. We're lucky this is at 2-2.

[AussieCeltic]

It feels wrong to say this with the Bucks missing Middleton, but the odds were really stacked against the Celtics tonight. Time Lord was a late scratch, the refs' calls have been favoring the Bucks for most of the series, they were on the road, and Tony Brothers (whom the C's almost always lose games with) is reffing the game. Yet they won a gritty fight. Couldn't be prouder of this team after it really seemed like the Bucks' physicality was breaking them down.

Al Horford should retire a Celtic.

What is it with the narrative of the Celtics overcoming this imaginary hurdle and odds are stacked against them. Celtics are the better team by a solid margin with Middleton being out. If Middleton was playing I would give the Bucks the edge.

Also Robert Williams is not Dennis Rodman re-incarnated. He is a great defender and valuable role player with very limited offensive skills. In my opinion him being in or out of the lineup is not really tipping the scale either way.

PS: I know Celts fan will jump on my Robert Williams take. But remember guys its just an opinion

RW3 has been shaky in the series but replacing his minutes with Theis going 0/5 and -10 in 10 minutes of action is brutal.

Middleton obviously is a huge loss but RW3 not being healthy has also hurt Boston. With all the punishment he's been taking the wheels really started to fall off for him.

13 offensive rebounds for the Bucks. That number is drastically smaller with him out there. Plus he is a great offensive rebounder and our only real lob threat.

[FreeThrowLine]

I’m really happy for the Celtics, they deserved this win and this series needs to go 7 games.

Having said that, my goodness did the Celtics enjoy shooting themselves in the foot in the first half, with so many lazy telegraphed cross court passes

A month or so ago, I said that Giannis was one of the only superstars that truly earns his free throws. I’d like to retract that statement based on what he’s been getting away with this playoffs.

The push off with his off hand and the contact as he’s jumping into guys, like the play he landed on Smart is at the point that it’s no longer good officiating and I could understand a Celtics fans frustration

Al Horford…wow, also why the hell was he given a tech after that dunk? I walked away for a minute while they were reviewing it and from what I can gather they didn’t call a flagrant but they gave him a tech for taunting? That’s ridiculous, he wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary

Tatum and Smart were also great late in the game

The only criticism I have of the Celtics defense is they need to revise how they help on Giannis and how they switch on Lopez.

Giannis rarely passes once he’s beaten his man off the dribble and has a path to the basket, but the Celtics help defenders are waiting way too late to rotate

Anyway, let’s hope we get Williams and Middleton back soon so both teams are closer to full health

[th87]

Wes Matthews alluded to the problem post game. They did this two games in a row. Blowing leads.

Hill can't get switched onto Tatum.

Bucks need to move the ball on every possession. Smart plays, high percentage shots.

Are we all dumb and don't know basketball or something? It seems so obvious that's the remedy, but for some reason, they refuse to do it.

How are handsomely paid professionals still not aware that Giannis shooting early 3s is bad? Just blows my mind.

I love it when Giannis takes 3s. I know they say he does it to keep the defence honest, but Celtics won’t change the way they defend him even if he makes 4 in a row. Once per game he brings it down and shoots a 3 straight away for some reason. It’s like he wants to prove a point that he can shoot.

Yeah exactly - it's like other shooters taking contested fadeaways...you accept it and live with the result.

Giannis 3s are like an automatic turnover 85% of the time, complete with a fast break opportunity. Big momentum shift right after he took one early in the 4th. Is he aware of this? How has no one been able to coach it out of him in 8 years?

[Asian Celtic]

Is this season one of the most entertaining semis of the nba? The celtics bucks series certainly lives up to the barfight expectation.

[th87]

When we went up 10, I knew Boston would come back. We just don't have someone that can take care of the ball, whilst our best shooter is out. We're lucky this is at 2-2.

Same, but I knew it was going to be because our players would take dumb heat check 3s. It's like clockwork. So yeah, I did make money hedging...but not happy about it.

[WestGOAT]

Missed this game. Can anyone give a brief rundown on how the Bucks blew another late lead?

Only this time it was fatal unlike the game before.
Did Bucks offense collapse again? Can't trust Giannis in the 4th it seems.

[th87]

Missed this game. Can anyone give a brief rundown on how the Bucks blew another late lead?

Only this time it was fatal unlike the game before.
Did Bucks offense collapse again? Can't trust Giannis in the 4th it seems.

Giannis and especially Jrue ballhogging and clanking heat check 3s, Tatum making tough shots, Horford being left open and raining 3s.

[Plossum]

Missed this game. Can anyone give a brief rundown on how the Bucks blew another late lead?

Only this time it was fatal unlike the game before.
Did Bucks offense collapse again? Can't trust Giannis in the 4th it seems.

Celtics we’re knocking down their shots in the fourth, Bucks went full clogged toilet on offence.

[Yinwest]

Missed this game. Can anyone give a brief rundown on how the Bucks blew another late lead?

Only this time it was fatal unlike the game before.
Did Bucks offense collapse again? Can't trust Giannis in the 4th it seems.

Go to YouTube and search Al Horford.

[WestGOAT]

Missed this game. Can anyone give a brief rundown on how the Bucks blew another late lead?

Only this time it was fatal unlike the game before.
Did Bucks offense collapse again? Can't trust Giannis in the 4th it seems.

Giannis and especially Jrue ballhogging and clanking heat check 3s, Tatum making tough shots, Horford being left open and raining 3s.

Thanks, reminds me a lot of game 3 then, except this time Celtics managed to take and keep advantage. I don't get why Giannis is chucking 3s in the 4th, but I guess he's just too gassed. Holiday has never reliable on offense so not surprised there.