” We reacted well from the start. That’s all I wanted and what we wanted collectively, whether we imposed ourselves or not. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics did more than react, two days after their heavy and unexpected loss on the floor of the Wizards. In Milwaukee, Joe Mazzulla’s men downright demolished the best team in the league on their floor (99-140).
“ We know what it’s all about. If we’re not in it and we don’t play hard, they’re going to kick our ass. It’s as simple as that. There is no worry. It is a fact. If we play the same way, we will get the same result. We must have a little pride “, claims for his part Giannis Antetokounmpo, who seemed very alone in the middle of this collective slump.
His Bucks were thus beaten by their two pursuers – Celtics and Sixers – in the same month, in addition to a recent defeat on the floor of the Nuggets…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– +20 in the second quarter. At the end of the first quarter certainly dominated by the Celtics of a Jaylen Brown on fire to start (26-34), who would have imagined the demonstration to come? In the minutes that followed, Jayson Tatum collected 3-point baskets and free throws to make it 13-0 almost single-handedly. While Robert Williams III showed up everywhere on defense, Milwaukee stalled on offense. Al Horford also began to punish from afar while Malcolm Brogdon gained access to the circle far too easily. Boston thus posted a 41-21 in this period to turn very largely in the lead at the break (47-75). The reaction of the locals? It will not take place since they will never be able to slow down the Tatum-Brown pair opposite…
– defensive display. Scoring 140 points in today’s NBA is nothing out of the ordinary, even if it was their second-biggest performance of the year in that regard. But doing so by limiting the opponent to 99 units is even stronger for the Celtics whose strategy was quite clear: block the racket as much as possible to limit the impact of Antetokounmpo. Al Horford thus spent his evening inviting him to send from afar. Bet succeeded since the Greek even sent an “air-ball” after having shot in first intention behind the arc. The same strategy was used against Jevon Carter who watered the whole evening.
– The tiebreaker for Boston. This summit in the East has no direct consequence in the standings. At least not yet? Because if the Celtics ever managed to catch up with the Bucks, they would pass them because of a now favorable “tiebreaker”: Boston has indeed won two of their three confrontations this season. Milwaukee still has a bit of a margin with two wins up front but there are still five games to go on each roster. For Jaylen Brown, the quest for that top spot is ” important. We want to end the season in style and see what happens. »
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jayson Tatum – Jaylen Brown. The two locomotives of the collective performance of the Celtics. The first was exceptional in 3-point skill (8/10) while the first did more damage close to the circle. He notably multiplied the “back-door”, being served several times by Marcus Smart, to dunk. Further back, Al Horford also hurt the Bucks with his address from afar. From the bench, Malcolm Brogdon (+41!) and Robert Williams III brought vital energy.
⛔ Supporters of Giannis. If the Greek suffered a lot in the game and needed to shoot 27 times to score 24 points, he would undoubtedly have appreciated a little more support from his teammates. Starting with a Jrue Holiday who didn’t really exist in this part, after his record the day before, while Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton brought far too little.
KHRIS MIDDLETON KO
At the heart of a complicated evening for him too, the rear of the Bucks left his teammates prematurely in the third quarter after receiving an elbow in the face from Jaylen Brown, sanctioned by a regular offensive foul. Mike Budenholzer clarified after the match that his player, in blood on the action, had received ” three or four stitches to the upper lip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1BRA3dqmtU
THE FOLLOWING
Bucks (55-22) : reception of the Sixers on Sunday.
Celtics (53-24) : Jazz reception next night.
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