The Celtics have more guys who have been there and done that
One can make an argument that the biggest weakness of the Bucks is their lack of playoff experience. It is well documented that the playoffs are a different beast and having guys in the team who have been through it before is invaluable.
Even though you can expect Giannis and Khris Middleton to show up and be elite, the fact remains that not a lot of guys in the Bucks locker room have been under the spotlight during April, May, and June. The Celtics, however, have multiple guys who have been exposed to adversity and high-pressure games and have a great blend of youth and veteran leadership.
Kyrie Irving‘s championship pedigree, Al Horford’s leadership, Gordon Hayward‘s playoff experience, and the lessons learned from last year’s deep playoff run will all matter this series significantly.
Yes, the Celtics have not yet proven that they can win on the road against elite teams, but at the end of the day, if they protect home court, all they need is a single road win out of 4. With the competitiveness and grit that this team plays with, that is a genuine possibility.