Final evening, Mazzulla’s Celtics confronted the final coach to win an NBA title with the Celtics earlier than Joe. The Celtics’ momentum was burning scorching, whereas the Bucks are already on the verge of a disaster. After an in depth first half, the Celtics pulled away, beating a Bucks workforce nonetheless trying to find its identification.
1. The disagreeable first 135 seconds
The opening of the sport didn’t go as deliberate. The Celtics struggled to provoke their offense and gave up an open shot to the Bucks. After solely 135 seconds, Joe Mazzulla, livid, referred to as for an early timeout—channeling his internal Greg Popovich.
Proper after the timeout, the Celtics misplaced the ball on the inbound, and Joe appeared furious once more…
2. Decide-and-roll protection
One of the vital intriguing elements of this recreation was the Celtics’ pick-and-roll protection. With Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez, the Bucks have a number of choices to assault Boston.
Final season, the Bucks relied closely on the Lillard-Lopez pick-and-roll, they usually opened with it once more final evening. Initially, Al Horford was matched up with Lopez, resulting in drop protection, which opened up pull-up alternatives for Lillard—not preferrred.
The Celtics shortly adjusted, placing Horford on his outdated buddy Giannis, reigniting their acquainted battle. This transfer allowed Jrue Vacation and Jayson Tatum to modify onto Lillard when Lopez set the display screen. Since Giannis isn’t a taking pictures menace, Horford might keep nearer to the motion and supply assist protection when wanted.
The Bucks tried to make use of Lopez’s deep put up positioning in opposition to Boston, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to disrupt the Celtics’ protection.
3. Uncommon free-throw quantity for Celtics’ opponents
The Bucks posted a Free Throw Price of 32.9%, in keeping with CleaningTheGlass.com. This implies one out of each three shot makes an attempt resulted in a visit to the road—uncommon for Celtics opponents.
Final season, Boston led the league in limiting opponent free-throw alternatives, holding them to a median Free Throw Price of simply 14.1%. Final evening, the Bucks almost doubled that.
How did this occur? Giannis, as ordinary, generated journeys to the road along with his skill to interrupt down defenses along with his size and pace. Luckily for the league, he doesn’t convert properly from there.
Damian Lillard, one other key issue, can draw fouls on drives, pull-ups, and even whereas dribbling. Final evening, he generated nearly as many free throws as your entire Celtics workforce. You would possibly argue he will get famous person calls, however he’s a famous person. Regardless that the Bucks are underperforming, Lillard stays probably the greatest offensive gamers within the NBA.
4. Celtics are fortunate the Warmth didn’t get Lillard
This recreation additionally highlighted how harmful Lillard would have been alongside Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and underneath Erik Spoelstra’s teaching. His pull-up taking pictures and driving skill make him robust for Boston, which prides itself on forcing opponents into tough photographs.
Lillard is likely one of the few offensive gamers who isn’t closely impacted by the Celtics’ elite protection, as he can create beauty in robust conditions. Fortunately for us, he’s on a workforce that doesn’t know the way to maximize what he nonetheless affords.
5. Has the double-big line-up disappeared?
We solely noticed a couple of minutes of the Celtics’ double-big lineup final evening. Joe Mazzulla admitted he wasn’t happy with the workforce’s protection on this configuration.
Joe Mazzulla mentioned the defensive problem of enjoying with out Sam Hauser:
“Our defensive system is just a little bit tough in the case of double-big models.” pic.twitter.com/hVe1sXUran
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 28, 2024
This may increasingly have been as a result of matchup in opposition to Milwaukee, nevertheless it opens the door for extra rotation alternatives—and extra minutes for our beloved Jordan Walsh.
6. Jordan Walsh’s significant minutes
In opposition to the Bucks, Jordan Walsh bought his first significant minutes of the season, enjoying within the second quarter, late within the third, and early within the fourth. His physicality and protection stood out.
Walsh timed his switches properly, used his size to disrupt the Bucks’ offense, and stayed in entrance of Lopez when switching off-ball. He additionally displayed nice power whereas guarding Giannis within the put up.
Offensively, he was stagnant within the nook throughout his first stretch. Nevertheless, in his second stint, he turned extra lively, grabbing two offensive rebounds and changing one with a put-back. It’s encouraging to see Mazzulla belief him, and Walsh confirmed he earned that belief.
7. Payton Pritchard was so good, he had Doc Rivers on his knees
Late within the third quarter, the Bucks have been on the line. With just a few seconds left on the clock, Pritchard was on the ground, able to run, and all of us knew what was coming. And it occurred. Doc Rivers couldn’t imagine it (and the man behind him couldn’t cease laughing).
8. Jrue Vacation is aware of the way to assault the Bucks’ protection
Jrue Vacation, who was the cornerstone of Milwaukee’s protection throughout their 2021 title run, is aware of Giannis and Lopez’s tendencies. This allowed him to acknowledge when to assault.
He was particularly aggressive when Lopez was on Horford, repeatedly driving to take advantage of the Bucks’ lack of rim safety. If Horford was stationed within the nook, Jrue would drive, realizing Lopez would assist, and he might kick the ball out to Horford for a 3.
When Horford was positioned above the break, Vacation would once more drive, understanding that the Bucks would don’t have any rim safety.
9. Jaylen Brown’s looking when wanted
Early within the third quarter, the Celtics began looking Lillard with Jaylen Brown, sparking an 11-3 run. Brown continues to enhance at exploiting mismatches and punishing defenders.
Within the fourth quarter, Mazzulla despatched Brown looking once more, this time concentrating on Delon Wright and Gary Trent Jr. With the Celtics’ wonderful spacing, JB bought nice post-up positioning and might show is likely one of the league’s greatest one-on-one gamers.
10. The Bucks look misplaced with out Brook Lopez
When Lopez went to the bench, the Bucks misplaced their defensive stability. They struggled to guard the rim, and Giannis alone couldn’t compensate for the shortage of defensive assist from the wings and backcourt. Lopez was wonderful defensively, holding his personal in opposition to the Jays and proving why he’s probably the greatest rim protectors within the NBA.
Offensively, the Bucks faltered with out Lopez. Their offense turned stagnant and lacked spacing. Bobby Portis, Lopez’s backup, depends on post-up performs, which have been comically ineffective. Why Doc Rivers insists on this strategy, which was unhealthy final season too, stays a thriller.
As soon as once more, it’s a good time to be a Celtics fan and a troublesome time to be a Bucks fan.
