Crunch time
With how well these two teams are matched, games are bound to go down to the wire more likely than not. If and when it does, Boston is the favorite to come out with the win. They have the best closer in this series with Kyrie who embraces the moment, and if you’re the Bucks, you just do not want the ball in that man’s hands with the game on the line. His ability to shoot from distance, dance on his defender, and finish in the paint – while doing all of it with incredible efficiency to close out games – makes him such a prized asset for the Celtics.
Apart from Kyrie, the Celtics have multiple bonafide shot makers down the stretch with Al, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, Jaylen Brown, all having the ability to take and make big shots. The strategic edge that Brad Stevens brings to the table tips the scales in the Celtics favor. Meanwhile, the Bucks have multiple threats as well, but it is during the last few minutes of a game when Giannis’s shooting woes are magnified and is detrimental.
At the end of games, defenses pack the paint and are more physical, and you have to be able to shoot from the perimeter. Due to his lack of a reliable jump shot, even though Giannis is probably the most dominant player in the league, teams will force him to give up the ball, and the Bucks will have to rely on someone other than their superstar to make the big shot. This is where the Bucks will really miss a shot-maker like Malcolm Brogdon (no official timetable for return yet.).