To Become the Champs, We Need to Beat the Champs

[GreenlyGreeny]

We’re playing like the 2021 Celtics. This Bucks team is not going to give up their title without a fight. We need to take it. Let’s return to being the 2022 Celtics in the 4th!

[GreenlyGreeny]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game and I’m not sure JT/JB could have a worse game. We’ll bounce back and even it up. But we need to win a game in Milwaukee now. We can do this. We’re the better team even if they have the best player.

[Ed Monix]

If the Celtics can’t beat the Milwaukee Bucks without Middleton and home court advantage, they don’t deserve to win the title.

The Celtics are probably the worst matchup for the Bucks, with Robert Williams, Tatum & Brown to throw at Giannis and Smart being the perfect equalizer for Jrue Holiday.

It’s hopefully going to be a long series but there can’t be any excuses.

[Roy H.]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

[greg683x]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game and I’m not sure JT/JB could have a worse game. We’ll bounce back and even it up. But we need to win a game in Milwaukee now. We can do this. We’re the better team even if they have the best player.

Tatum will have better games, I wouldn’t hold my breath with Brown though

[Roy H.]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game and I’m not sure JT/JB could have a worse game. We’ll bounce back and even it up. But we need to win a game in Milwaukee now. We can do this. We’re the better team even if they have the best player.

Tatum will have better games, I wouldn’t hold my breath with Brown though

The law of averages says he has to be better than he was in Game 1, right?  I can excuse dudes for poor shooting nights, but his head just didn't seem like it was in the game.  Too casual with his handle, not looking for passes, etc.

[LilRip]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game and I’m not sure JT/JB could have a worse game. We’ll bounce back and even it up. But we need to win a game in Milwaukee now. We can do this. We’re the better team even if they have the best player.

Um… what?

[seancally]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

[Moranis]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

and he will continue to do so.  Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  No one is even close to him. 

[Roy H.]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

and he will continue to do so.  Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  No one is even close to him.

Yeah, it's the difference between running into a former MVP (Durant), as opposed to a two-time MVP in his prime who could realistically win the award every season.

[nyceltsfan]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

and he will continue to do so.  Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  No one is even close to him.

Yeah, it's the difference between running into a former MVP (Durant), as opposed to a two-time MVP in his prime who could realistically win the award every season.

Not to mention that Holiday is mentally tough and will bring it defensively every night, regardless of his shooting (which also happened to be on fire yesterday).  This is a much tougher lineup for us.  Other than Lopez, the bigs on Milwaukee are mobile in addition to being able to shoot.  The wings have size and can shoot.  The guards are big and can shoot.  They all play defense too.

The Nets could not defend and were mentally weak.  The defense that Milwaukee brings requires us to be much more precise with the ball.  The turnovers are leading to easy baskets for Milwaukee and not allowing us to get out in transition.  If we don't have a transition game this series, we are done.

We can talk about Tatum and Brown having bad shooting nights, but their offense gets going when the Celtics get stops and turnovers that allow them to get out in transition or hunt mismatches, while the defense is in disarray.  I hope Udoka has a game plan to get this going.  I am no coach, but I think double-teaming Giannis in the paint is not the way to go.  They need to be smarter with the double teams.  Send a second defender if and when he is dancing around the perimeter.  Otherwise, stay home on the shooters.

[gift]

Defense was fine for the most part. Have to more effective going at the basket. Get Marcus and Timelord in sync and things will open up, give Brown and Tatum more room to operate.

Brown really wasn't in the game at all. Even on "good" defensive plays he was out of position when Grant or Marcus made the good defensive play. Not sure if the hamstring is in his head or what. He's always tended to have drift games. We need him to be a threat. I think he will be. He showed a lot of resilience in 2018 against the Bucks before getting hurt. He'll do it again.

[seancally]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

and he will continue to do so.  Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  No one is even close to him.

Sure but the weak doubles don’t help. We can’t be lackadaisical about it. He’s a great passer out of double teams and we left too many shooters too open. That can clean up a lot.

[slamtheking]

was expecting a Ric Flair meme with this thread title

[Moranis]

I’m not sure Giannis could have a better game…

He scored 24 points on 36% shooting, and had five turnovers. He will have better games.

Better scoring games. He killed us with his passing out of weak doubles.

and he will continue to do so.  Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  No one is even close to him.

Sure but the weak doubles don’t help. We can’t be lackadaisical about it. He’s a great passer out of double teams and we left too many shooters too open. That can clean up a lot.

strong doubles won't do much more though.  That is the problem with Giannis.  He is just so good.  I still think Boston can win this series, but they are in a hole losing game 1.  Boston has to win game 2 or the series is over.  It is a massive game.