Can the Boston Celtics make the necessary adjustments to bounce back against the defending champs?
The Boston Celtics must find a way to win Game 2 in their best of seven series against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. The last thing they want to do is lose the homecourt advantage heading into Game 3 down 2-0 as the series will shift back to Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played well enough in Game 1 for the Bucks to get the victory but the Celtics have to figure out how to defend him and limit him somewhat. There really isn’t anything that can be done to stop the 2-time MVP but the Celtics have plenty of options on defense to throw at him.
Antetokounmpo did not have a good game from the field as he went 9-25 shooting 36 percent but everyone knows that he is capable of exploding on any given night which is something that the Celtics will try to prevent from happening. The Celtics will need maximum effort on the defensive end if they have any hopes of evening this series. What really hurt were the 12 assists Antetokounmpo accumulated as he possesses an uncanny ability to find his teammates as he is likely to draw two defenders every time he touches the ball.
Even though the Celtics found success guarding and disrupting Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant during their first-round matchup, defending Antetokounmpo will be a much more difficult and arduous task.
While the Celtics were physical with Durant as they tried to bully him and take him out of his comfort zone by throwing multiple defenders at him, the same strategy won’t work against Antetokounmpo as he is just built different. The Celtics tried to be physical with him as the game began and it appeared to be having an effect on him early, but as all the great players do, he adjusted and the by the time the second half rolled around, the Celtics looked like a worn down team as fatigue seemed to play a factor.
They appeared to be so worn down on the defensive end and out of energy that they couldn’t generate anything on the offensive end. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were a combined 10-31 from the field and that’s just not going to get the job done.
The Celtics’ two superstars must match the Bucks intensity and level of play if they have any chance of advancing to the next round. Also, Brown’s seven turnovers didn’t help either as he struggled all game. With so much pressure on Tatum to carry the team, it’s important for Brown to show up as his performance will more than likely be the difference between the Celtics winning or losing this series.
They must find a way to limit Antetokounmpo’s elite playmaking ability and close out quickly on 3-point attempts whenever he drives and kicks the ball out to open teammates. Even though he shot poorly he still made shots in crucial moments and still dominated the game in other areas. Even though the Celtics had the best defensive unit during the regular season, the Bucks appear to have the advantage with the matchups and the personnel.
The Bucks are capable of getting it done on the defensive end as well as they have a size advantage on the interior with Antetokounmpo, Robin Lopez and Bobby Portis protecting the paint with Jrue Holiday and Wesley Matthews locking down the perimeter. If Tatum and Brown can get in sync offensively then the Celtics have a chance.
Boston also has to match the Bucks energy on defense and try to create some turnovers. They also must protect the ball as their18 turnovers resulted in 27 points for the Bucks. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can make the necessary adjustments in order to even this series.