Shams: Middleton OUT For 2nd Round With Grade 2 MCL Sprain

[liam]

Bucks depth has improved with Allen, Lopez and Matthews contributing. 

It is natural for a team to let up a little when its opponent loses a key player. Ime won't tolerate that.

And they still have Giannis.

Key to me is whether we can hit the open 3's.   Particularly guys like Derrick White and Marcus Smart.  Bucks defense is designed around daring you to make them and packing the middle.  I could see Payton Pritchard getting extra minutes in this game, especially if he continues his hot shooting.

Yeah, I was picturing a lot of PP and Grant in the corners. I don't think it will happen but I wouldn't mind some spot minutes from Hauser.

[Who]

Milwaukee are dead in the water without Middleton.

They can't beat a team as good as BOS without him.

[Birdman]

Good

[jbpats]

Hate to celebrate an injury but this really helps us. I feel like Middleton make all star appearances solely based on how he constantly torches the Celtics.

It is officially our series to lose now.

[angryguy77]

Well now the excuse is built in. Get ready for "you only won because they were down a guy."
Meanwhile, they'll pretend they didn't benefit from that against the nets last year.

*Edit

How sure are they the leak is true? Is it possible the Bucks are playing some head games and trying to mess with Ime's prep?

[Sophomore]

How many years has it been the Cs dealing with this kind of bad news? Seemingly every one of the past several years.

[letsgoblue86]

Wasn’t smart hurt most of the series we played in 2019 vs Mil?

[Phantom255x]

Not having Middleton is tough for MIL because he was their best closer/finisher this season. Even in the Bulls series, the first two games were close and they split that (lost 1), but the other three games were blowouts anyways so it didn't matter.

In a close game, you'd like to think the C's have the edge late with Middleton out.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Load up on Giannis, close out on three point shooters, and secure the defensive rebound.

It's basically the same strategy as the Nets, but this time you don't have to guard the main guy outside the three point line. Oh, and helpside defenders need to focus on taking charges on Giannis, because the opportunity will be there.

Middleton breaks that defense down by giving them a steady midrange option.

Now, one of Brown or Tatum (or even both) can essentially focus all their energy on offense while helping and locking up the likes of Wesley Matthews or Pat Connaughton, both of whom I like, but shouldn't present a huge challenge to them.

The Bucks are champions and deserve the utmost respect. They know how to fight and grind in the playoffs. If the Cs come in with the same attitude of respect and attacking mindset as they had for the Nets, they will be fine. If not, the Bucks can and will win the series.

[Moranis]

Milwaukee are dead in the water without Middleton.

They can't beat a team as good as BOS without him.

I wouldn't say that, I mean they won 2 games in the ECF last year without Giannis.  The Bucks are a deep well constructed team and they have the best player in the world.  No one should be writing their obituary.  I do think Boston will win a very close 7 game series since Middleton is out, but if Giannis leads them to 4 wins instead of 3 it wouldn't surprise me at all.  Giannis is just a monster.

[Phantom255x]

I said C's in 7. Still feeling that but with Middleton out, maybe I could push it to C's in 6. Especially if the C's go up 2-0 early in the series

[kraidstar]

I actually think Celtic fans overrate the Bucks a little bit. Yes, they are a contender.

But that supporting cast doesn't excite me much. There are weaknesses in that defense, and with Middleton out that hurts their creative scoring around the perimeter.

IMO they will have major offensive issues. Giannis helps hide a lot of faults at both ends but without Middleton he has a heavy load indeed. They weren't exactly lighting it up against the Nets last year, and that was WITH Khris.

[SHAQATTACK]

That just means 20 % more Giannis ISO ball and we foul out Grant , Horford and Rob in the process…LOL …….  He is the new KD , LeBron replacement ……a lot more likable dude IMO.

I m fretting o er Jalens hamstring …..that could derail the Celtics .  Coach really needs to keep an eye on him.

[bdm860]

Maybe it's just my view through my green goggles, but it's nice for the Celtics to be on the other side of this for a change.

In recent history, do you think injuries have affected the C's or their opponents more?

2022 Round 1: C's partially missing Time Lord. Nets missing Simmons, Harris.
2021 Round 1: C's missing Brown, partially missing Kemba, Time Lord. Nets partially missing Jeff Green.
2020 Round 3: C's partially missing Hayward. Heat missing Winslow.
2020 Round 2: C's missing Hayward. Raptors healthy.
2020 Round 1: C's partially missing Hayward.  Sixers missing Simmons.
2019 Round 2: C's partially missing Smart.  Bucks partially missing Brogdon.
2019 Round 1: C's missing Smart.  Pacers missing Oladipo.
2018 Round 3: C's missing Irving and Hayward.  Cavs healthy-ish (though a lot of turnover that season, some of it due to injuries like to Isaiah).
2018 Round 2: C's missing Irving and Hayward.  Sixers healthy.
2018 Round 1: C's missing Irving and Hayward, partially missing Smart.  Bucks partially missing Henson.
2017 Round 3: C's partially missing Thomas.  Cavs healthy.
2017 Round 2: C's healthy.  Wizards healthy.
2017 Round 1: C's healthy.  Bulls partially missing Rondo.
2016 Round 1: C's missing Avery Bradley.  Hawks healthy.
2015 Round 1: C's healthy. Cavs missing Varejao, partially missing Love (thanks to Olynyk).
2013 Round 1: C's missing Rondo, Sullinger.  Knicks missing Stoudemire.
2012 Round 3: C's missing Jeff Green, Bradley.  Heat partially missing Bosh.
2012 Round 2: C's missing Jeff Green, partially missing Bradley.  Sixers healthy.
2012 Round 1: C's missing Jeff Green, partially missing Ray.  Hawks partially missing Horford, Josh Smith.
2011 Round 2: C's missing Shaq (technically played 2 games averaging 6mpg).  Heat partially missing Haslem.
2011 Round 1: C's missing Shaq.  Knicks partially missing Billups.
2010 Finals: C's partially missing Perk.  Lakers healthy.
2009 Round 2: C's missing KG and Powe.  Magic missing Nelson, partially missing Lee.
2009 Round 1: C's missing KG, partially missing Powe.  Bulls missing Deng.
2008 Finals: C's healthy.  Lakers missing Bynum.
2008 Round 3: C's healthy.  Pistons healthy.
2008 Round 2: C's healthy.  Cavs partially missing Gibson.
2008 Round 1: C's healthy.  Hawks healthy.


(I'm sure I'm missing some notable injuries, especially on the opponents side).

[86MaxwellSmart]

With Middleton out, The Bucks will be playing harder now. C's better not relax.