WinView Games Playbook: Celtics vs Bucks

Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks -5 Total: 205

The Celtics have taken a 2-0 lead in the series after a Game 2 120-106 win over the Bucks.  The series shifts to Milwuakee where the Bucks are actually a five-point favorite despite being down in the series.  The 205 total is no surprise given how strong the Celtics are on the defensive end but both games have gone over the total in this series with the help of overtime in Game 1.  If Milwaukee hopes to win Game 3 they will need to play much better defense as Boston’s top scorer in Jaylen Brown is shooting 51.2-percent from the floor.  Al Horford is shooting 63.2-percent from the floor with the duo of Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris but shooting above 45.0-percent.  Rookie Jayson Tatum had a poor Game 2 shooting but did scored 19 points in Game 1.  On the flip side it has just been a two man show with the Bucks as Giannis Atetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the only two players averaging over 13 points per game this series with Giannis averaging 32.5 and Middleton averaging 28.0.  The Bucks need better play from point guard Eric Bledsoe who is shooting just 36-percent from the floor while averaging just 10.5 points this series as he finds himself in a tough matchup against Celtics guard Terry Rozier.

Game Play Predictions

Boston Celtics

• The Celtics were one of the leagues top defensive teams during the regular season, finishing third in average points allowed at 100.4.
• The Celtics finished tied for seventh in rebounding and will have an advantage on the glass as the Bucks ranked dead last in team rebounding.
• The Celtics finished 10^th this season in three-point attempts as a team and second in three-point percentage at 37.7-percent.  Boston loves the three-point shot!
• The Celtics and Bucks are currently second to last in pace of play during the playoffs and during the regular season the Celtics ranked 23^rd in pace of play while the Bucks finished just a bit higher in 20^th.
• Boston’s top scorer during the series has been guard Jaylen Brown. Brown is averaging 25 points with 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.5 three-pointers per game.  Brown is shooting 41.2-percent from three-point range during the playoffs which is no fluke after shooting 39-percent from three during the season.
• Point guard Terry Rozier is making many forget about Kyrie Irving as he is averaging 23.0 points with 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.5 three-pointers per game.  Rozier is shooting 50-percent from three this series which is not sustainable, but he did shoot 38-percent from beyond-the-arc during the regular season, so he can definitely hit from long range.
• Center/Forward Al Horford is shooting an impressive 63.2-percent from the floor, averaging 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 steals this series.  He has also been responsible for guarding Antetokoumpo which has been no small task.
• Rookie Jayson Tatum registered a double-double in Game 1, scoring 19 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and three steals. In Game 2 he shot just 2-for-9 from the floor for four points but added seven rebounds, three assists, one block and four steals.  Tatum shot 43.4-percent from three-point range during the regular season.
• Marcus Morris comes off the bench for the Celtics but provides instant offense and will play 30+ minutes in this game.  Morris is averaging 19.5 points, six rebounds and 2.5 three-pointers this series while shooting 45.2-percent from the floor and 50-percent from three-point range.  During the regular season Morris shot 36.8-percent from beyond-the-arc.

Players To Watch

Milwaukee Bucks

• The Bucks ranked dead last in team rebounding this season
• Milwaukee finished 16^th in both points for and points against this season, averaging 106.5 points for and 106.8 points against.
• The Bucks ranked 21^st in three-point percentage, shooting just 35.5-percent from beyond-the-arc during the regular season.
• The Bucks ranked 25^th in three-point attempts at 24.7 attempts per game.
• Milwaukee ranked seventh in free-throw attempts per game and eighth in free-throw percentage at 78.2-percent.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the Bucks leading scorer during the series, averaging 32.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals.
• Giannis lead the team with a 32.6-percent usage rate during the regular season.
• Eric Bledsoe finished second in usage rate during the regular season at 27.0-percent.
• Bledsoe is having a tough series as he is shooting just 36.0-percent from the floor and 33.3-percent from three-point range.
• Khris Middleton has been the Bucks second leading scorer this series, averaging 28.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
• Middleton is shooting an impressive 69-percent from three-point range this series, averaging 4.5 made three-pointers per game.
• The Bucks offense is centered around Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Bledsoe with secondary players Malcom Brogdon and Jabari Parker chipping in off the bench.
• Jabari Parker had a strong month of April, averaging 19.5 points a game but has been non-existent so far this series, averaging just 12 minutes a game.

Players To Watch