The Celtics provided an emphatic answer to the doubters and critics who felt that Game 1 was an indication that a potential sweep was in process. The team flew out of the blocks in Game 2 and were in attack mode. By halftime, the team had the game well in control with a 65-40 lead. Despite the Bucks’ attempts to get back into the game in the second half, the Celtics put out any fire and won it handily by 23 points. In this article, we preview Game 3 by reflecting on what unfolded in Game 2.
1. Misfiring supporting cast and Giannis’ inefficiency-the Bucks won Game 1 because the supporting cast knocked down shots. Grayson Allen, Brooke Lopez, and Wesley Matthews combined for 22 points. However, in Game two the same trio had just 11 points. The supporting cast usually plays better at home, and it will be interesting to see whether this trio will step up their output. Also, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points in Game 1 but was inefficient by shooting 9 for 25 from the field. In Game 2, it was not much better because the Greek Freak scored 28 points but shot 11 of 27 from the field and 5 of 9 from the free-throw line. Giannis is having a hard time getting to his spots with the Celtics’ tight defense and the ability to put multiple tall and athletic players on him including the man that calls himself Batman at point 2.
2. Grant Williams emergence-the playoff is the time when stars are born, and players emerge to be household names on the national stage. Grant Williams was selected with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft. He barely saw the court in last year’s gentleman sweep by the Nets. Many fans wondered why this player did not take part in this past Summer League. However, credit to Grant, he was in the gym putting in the work and improving his basketball game. This season Grant shot 41% from three-point attempts and improved his defensive skills. In this game, Grant scored 21 points and was 6 of 9 from the three-point line but his ability to contain Giannis in one on one matchup was impressive.
3. Jaylen Brown vs Jrue Holiday likely determines who wins -through two games, a pattern that has emerged is that the game will come down to whether Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday have the better game. In Game 1, Jaylen’s tentative play led to 12 points while the aggressive Holiday scored a game-high 25 points. However, Brown would not be denied in Game 2 as he came out firing on all cylinders scoring 25 in the first half and 30 points overall. With Giannis and Jayson Tatum the consistent number 1 players for both teams canceling each other’s output, Game 3 will be determined by the secondary star who has the best game.
4. Derrick White and the short rotation-the absence of Marcus Smart forced Ime Udoka to hand Derrick White a start in Game 2. However, White struggled in Game 2 with a zero points performance and 0 for 6 shooting from the field. Derrick does other things well for the team because he had five assists and played good defense. However, White needs to figure out his stroke because the Bucks will be daring him to shoot once he is on the floor. The Celtics chose not to play Daniel Theis in Game 2 because he had a bad Game 1 in this series. Ime stuck to a seven-man rotation which worked because of the three-day lay-off between Game 2 and 3 but with only two rest days between Game 3 to 4, look for Ime to play eight players.
5. Will Marcus Smart play in Game 3?-Smart shocked the world when he failed to play in Game 2. The fact he could not suit up for the game shows he was in pain. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to shake off the quad injury and return to the lineup in Game 3. The other option for Ime is to roll the dice and give him a week off by playing him in Game 4 knowing they only need to win 1 to get back the home-field advantage.
Prediction- I have the Celtics winning Game 3 in Milwaukee. I think in the first two games they have shown that they can slow down Giannis and force the supporting cast to beat them. I think Jaylen Brown outplays Jrue Holiday as the secondary scorer again, and the Celtics win 105-Bucks 99.