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

[Pachinko_]

I want the Bucks to win another one badly, but if it's not in the cards then TBH I can think of worse things than the Cs winning it, a team that develops talent and builds over time with smart drafting, coaching and strategy. I can respect those things, what would really annoy me is if the Nets won it, they've cut literally every corner imaginable and did no work at all, they just think they're owed one just because of big budget and postcode appeal. I'd be even be *almost* ok if the Lakers won it just out of respect for Lebron (who I don't even like but I mean the guy is 37 for **** sake, I've never seen anything like that before). But not the Nets. Suns I'm ok, they've been tortured enough. Should be called the Phoenix Saints.

[AussieCeltic]

It's the Bucks offense I'm not really getting. Giannis isn't having much luck against Horford or Grant W and it seems like Basketball 101 to set picks that will get a smaller defender switched onto him. I'm assuming they'll do some of that in Game 3 but then again I was expecting it in Game 2 and it didn't happen.

Took them until the 2nd half to go to some of that. Classic Bud/Bucks. Even as a fan that is used to it, that 1st quarter offense was still perplexing/frustrating as hell to watch.

Complete brainlessness. Giannis as a screener is a Basketball 101 adjustment, evident to everyone within 5 minutes.

Not only did Bud go to it too late, costing the game, he also gave Udoka film to work with to counter in Game 3.

Just complete malpractice. Could cost a very winnable series.

Do you know what’s wild? I was saying the same thing last year and it took Bud until about game 6 of the Nets series to make the adjustment.

The only team that does this well is the Warriors with Draymond.

Philly should’ve done it with Simmons… simple dribble hand off screens are so hard to defend when the defense is sagging.

[Fantaxp7]

I want the Bucks to win another one badly, but if it's not in the cards then TBH I can think of worse things than the Cs winning it, a team that develops talent and builds over time with smart drafting, coaching and strategy. I can respect those things, what would really annoy me is if the Nets won it, they've cut literally every corner imaginable and did no work at all, they just think they're owed one just because of big budget and postcode appeal. I'd be even be *almost* ok if the Lakers won it just out of respect for Lebron (who I don't even like but I mean the guy is 37 for **** sake, I've never seen anything like that before). But not the Nets. Suns I'm ok, they've been tortured enough. Should be called the Phoenix Saints.

And oddly enough the Bucks are who I'd be rooting for the rest of the way if they beat us. We have a mutual respect.

[fourones1x]

Whoever wins this series IMO takes the East

[Feed Your Head]

I want the Bucks to win another one badly, but if it's not in the cards then TBH I can think of worse things than the Cs winning it, a team that develops talent and builds over time with smart drafting, coaching and strategy. I can respect those things, what would really annoy me is if the Nets won it, they've cut literally every corner imaginable and did no work at all, they just think they're owed one just because of big budget and postcode appeal. I'd be even be *almost* ok if the Lakers won it just out of respect for Lebron (who I don't even like but I mean the guy is 37 for **** sake, I've never seen anything like that before). But not the Nets. Suns I'm ok, they've been tortured enough. Should be called the Phoenix Saints.

And oddly enough the Bucks are who I'd be rooting for the rest of the way if they beat us. We have a mutual respect.

Yeah it’s really hard to dislike them lol, especially Holiday, whose like the best person in the league.

[Bad-Thoma]

I want the Bucks to win another one badly, but if it's not in the cards then TBH I can think of worse things than the Cs winning it, a team that develops talent and builds over time with smart drafting, coaching and strategy. I can respect those things, what would really annoy me is if the Nets won it, they've cut literally every corner imaginable and did no work at all, they just think they're owed one just because of big budget and postcode appeal. I'd be even be *almost* ok if the Lakers won it just out of respect for Lebron (who I don't even like but I mean the guy is 37 for **** sake, I've never seen anything like that before). But not the Nets. Suns I'm ok, they've been tortured enough. Should be called the Phoenix Saints.

And oddly enough the Bucks are who I'd be rooting for the rest of the way if they beat us. We have a mutual respect.

Yeah it’s really hard to dislike them lol, especially Holiday, whose like the best person in the league.

Agreed. I love Giannis (I don't love how he is officiated at times but that goes for any star not in a Celtics uniform), love Jrue, have always loved Portis crazy intensity. I love the way they play D though selling out on defending the 3 feels gimmicky at times but hey, they did win a championship so I guess it works.

[Curmudgeon]

Whoever wins this series IMO takes the East

I don't agree. Miami vs either Boston or Milwaukee is a tossup.

[jfs1000d]

If someone put a gun to my head & said who's winning the Finals...right now it looks like the C's to me.

Suns for me but yeah in my mind it's close between Suns, Celtics, Bucks.
And Miami will not go down without a fight either

I got Celtics in 7. I do think the winner of this series wins the title. Bucks are really good. I think Middleton injury might be a killer to them.

What a weird playoff.


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[Infinite Llamas]

I want the Bucks to win another one badly, but if it's not in the cards then TBH I can think of worse things than the Cs winning it, a team that develops talent and builds over time with smart drafting, coaching and strategy. I can respect those things, what would really annoy me is if the Nets won it, they've cut literally every corner imaginable and did no work at all, they just think they're owed one just because of big budget and postcode appeal. I'd be even be *almost* ok if the Lakers won it just out of respect for Lebron (who I don't even like but I mean the guy is 37 for **** sake, I've never seen anything like that before). But not the Nets. Suns I'm ok, they've been tortured enough. Should be called the Phoenix Saints.

And oddly enough the Bucks are who I'd be rooting for the rest of the way if they beat us. We have a mutual respect.

Yeah it’s really hard to dislike them lol, especially Holiday, whose like the best person in the league.

I like that this thread has become a temporary lovefest so I’ll try to play nice and say something nice about the Bucks…

thank you Bucks for giving us Derek Strong for Ed Pinckney.

[jfs1000d]

Whoever wins this series IMO takes the East

I don't agree. Miami vs either Boston or Milwaukee is a tossup.

I actually think that Miami is a step below Boston and Milwaukee at their peak. issue is, Spo is terrific and Miami has shooting galore.


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[CharityStripe34]

It's the Bucks offense I'm not really getting. Giannis isn't having much luck against Horford or Grant W and it seems like Basketball 101 to set picks that will get a smaller defender switched onto him. I'm assuming they'll do some of that in Game 3 but then again I was expecting it in Game 2 and it didn't happen.

Both Gianni and Jrue cost them the game because they tried to play hero ball for nearly a whole half of basketball against a good defense. The roleplayers both games were ready to play but there was little ball-movement, and the Bucks were walking up the ball which they normally don't do. Boston was on fire and the lead was too big by the time the Bucks started playing a bit smarter in the late-3rd quarter or so.

Williams and Horford do a good job of playing physical D and contesting Gianni, but the latter was starting to impose himself a bit more second half and finding some success. For whatever reason, both he and Jrue were just driving into the teeth of the D instead of running high-screen action. That first quarter seemed like the Bucks were sort of content with the split the way they were (not) moving on the court. Boston was not going to just fold after a rough Game 1.

This will be a tough, hard-fought series neither team should expect many more blowouts moving forward. Both teams will make their minor tweaks. I expect the teams' stars to start playing more efficiently as well.

[Pachinko_]

Both Gianni and Jrue cost them the game because they tried to play hero ball for nearly a whole half of basketball against a good defense. The roleplayers both games were ready to play but there was little ball-movement, and the Bucks were walking up the ball which they normally don't do. Boston was on fire and the lead was too big by the time the Bucks started playing a bit smarter in the late-3rd quarter or so.

I really did feel like the were happy with the split, then the Cs came out all guns blazing and physical, the game got away from them early and they knew it. Do some **** to finish it up semi-decently, pack it in and see you back home. Pick your battles, it's still early. But if this was G4 or 5 they'd be fighting it to the bitter end.

[cl2117]

Both Gianni and Jrue cost them the game because they tried to play hero ball for nearly a whole half of basketball against a good defense. The roleplayers both games were ready to play but there was little ball-movement, and the Bucks were walking up the ball which they normally don't do. Boston was on fire and the lead was too big by the time the Bucks started playing a bit smarter in the late-3rd quarter or so.

I really did feel like the were happy with the split, then the Cs came out all guns blazing and physical, the game got away from them early and they knew it. Do some **** to finish it up semi-decently, pack it in and see you back home. Pick your battles, it's still early. But if this was G4 or 5 they'd be fighting it to the bitter end.

Felt like there was that stretch in the third where they smelled blood and started to push to see if they could turn the tide, but at that stage it was a bit too far gone and then by the 4th they were gassed (especially Giannis).

There was some stages in the first half where Bucks played outstanding D and C's just made impossible shots. Think that took the wind out of the sails a bit and combined with the fact that they had already secured the split they were just kinda going through the motions. 100% agree in a different game that probably doesn't happen and they do more to try and knock the C's off course.

I got a similar feeling down the stretch of Game 1 where the C's seem like they had resigned themselves to a loss and were in shock of getting punched so hard in the mouth. In more of a do or die scenario I'd expect more fight out of them, but given it's the start of a presumably/hopefully long series it felt like both teams were just taking stock of where they were at instead of going full bore.

[CharityStripe34]

Yeah they came out in that game way too casual. Sort of goofy not to expect Boston to come out with a ton of energy. Oh well, most observers knew this was going to be a tough series.

[Triple M]

Any chance that the Bucks go smaller to squeeze more offensive punch out of their lineups?

There has been a lot of talk about the sustainability of the Celtics offense, but the bucks have only scored 45, 40, and 46 the last 3 halves.

One thing I don't understand about the narrative
of Bud doesn't adjust, then why are the Bucks so dominant in games 3-5 or 6 the last 3 or 4 playoff series?

[RWGreen]

And oddly enough the Bucks are who I'd be rooting for the rest of the way if they beat us. We have a mutual respect.

Yeah it’s really hard to dislike them lol, especially Holiday, whose like the best person in the league.

Agreed. I love Giannis (I don't love how he is officiated at times but that goes for any star not in a Celtics uniform), love Jrue, have always loved Portis crazy intensity. I love the way they play D though selling out on defending the 3 feels gimmicky at times but hey, they did win a championship so I guess it works.

I was ready to hate Portis, but then Marcus hit the deck right near the beginning of game 1 and Portis helped him up and patted him on the but. I was like "Damn it!"

[BenoUdrihFTL]

Either of these teams would get smoked by the Heat. Just wait till you have to come down to Miami and we lull you into sleep paralysis with our late arriving sleepwalking crowd and drowsy regular season atmosphere

[greekbuck34]

Whoever wins this series IMO takes the East

I don't agree. Miami vs either Boston or Milwaukee is a tossup.

I actually think that Miami is a step below Boston and Milwaukee at their peak. issue is, Spo is terrific and Miami has shooting galore.


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It's not just that. Miami is having hard scrimmages against the Sixers while the Celtics and the Bucks leave each game with new bruises. Everything is physical and contested in our series and it will last for 6/7 games too.

Miami will be fresh and rested in the ECF.

[Bad-Thoma]

Either of these teams would get smoked by the Heat. Just wait till you have to come down to Miami and we lull you into sleep paralysis with our late arriving sleepwalking crowd and drowsy regular season atmosphere

Beno dropping in from Miami to troll the conversation -

[SK21209]

Any chance that the Bucks go smaller to squeeze more offensive punch out of their lineups?

There has been a lot of talk about the sustainability of the Celtics offense, but the bucks have only scored 45, 40, and 46 the last 3 halves.

One thing I don't understand about the narrative
of Bud doesn't adjust, then why are the Bucks so dominant in games 3-5 or 6 the last 3 or 4 playoff series?

They'll almost certainly cut back on the Giannis-Lopez-Portis together lineups, those units have had a really hard time scoring. In Game 3 I'd still expect to see 2 of those 3 on the court most of the time.