The Boston Celtics got a huge game out of Grant Williams in a decisive game 7, and the Celtics rode his hot hand to a 109-81 thumping of the Milwaukee Bucks. Williams proved he has the clutch gene in his blood, as he blew up for 27 points, most of which were three-pointers. The Celtics also got big games out of superstars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
With the victory, the Celtics advance to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat have a fierce bully-ball style of play and will look to find a way around Boston’s sweltering defense. The biggest thing Boston did in this series exposes the Milwaukee Bucks, more specifically, the fact that Giannis cannot be doing it all by himself.
Yes, I know that Khris Middleton was out, and if he were to have keyed into the lineup this would have been an entirely different series. However, we cannot understate the fact that the supporting cast showed up cold on most nights, leaving Giannis out to dry. Even Celtic’s coach Ime Udoka mentioned during an in-game interview that the Celtics have such a big lead, even without Tatum on the floor, because they don’t rely on one player.
I get it, Giannis is the best player in the NBA and that should be enough, right? Wrong! Even Jordan had Pippen and Rodman, Shaq had Kobe, and Duncan had Ginobili and Parker. The fact of the matter is that the Bucks need a third player to key into their rotation who can deliver some fire and intensity on a nightly basis.
Jrue Holiday has shown flashes of absolute brilliance during his Bucks tenure, but he has also shown that he is inconsistent and an in-efficient shooter. If the Bucks want to match up with the newly formed powers in the Eastern Conference, there going to need a better cast of supporting players for Middleton and Giannis. So, who would be some notable free agents they can pick up this off-season?
For starters, Malik Monk and Gary Payton II both showed they have some serious skills and will be looking for new contracts this off-season. Monk flourished on a Lakers team that did the exact opposite, and Payton II proved that he is one of the best young defenders in the league at the moment. The best thing about these young stars is the energy they’re able to inject into the lineup when they’re on the floor.
I’m not exactly sure how the Bucks are going to fix this issue, but it sure does need instant fixing, seeing as they have the best player in the world on their team, and he’s currently entering his prime. it would be a shame to waste his god-given talents by not winning at least another couple of championships. If he does choose to stay in Milwaukee, he’ll need help.