SVG is right

[pokeKingCurtis]

I couldn't watch but feels like SVG is one of those guys that really resist the 3 point revolution.

If you don't shoot the open 3 they'll collapse in the paint.

Stan was the Magic coach that started Dwight surrounded by four shooters. He understands that there has to be a balance between long and short range shots.

They’re loading up in the paint and giving us wide open threes, our good shooters should continue to shoot them early and our less efficient shooters should look to drive and kick or finish, especially late in games.

People criticized White tonight, but he saw the writing on the wall after a few misses, only took 6 shots and made the right play, pass or drive and pass.

As a poster mentioned earlier. Does Ime go against the grain and pound them inside, or just shoot 3s?

So far looks like he'll just go for the 3s. And that makes sense - Brown and Tatum need the outside scoring threat to be fully effective.

[ozgod]

I like what Ime said in his post game presser. The Bucks are going to pack the paint and take driving lanes away and force you to the perimeter. But the Cs don't have to take the first open shot that the Bucks give them, and play into the Bucks' hands. They can still attack closeouts and drive and kick to get a better shot, or find a cutter backdoor. Mix it up and get a shot of THEIR choosing, not the Bucks' choosing.

Udoka acknowledged that after a first-round sweep of a Nets team built on finesse rather than tenacity, the Bucks’ tenacious approach was a shock to the system in Game 1. Milwaukee’s guards picked up Celtics ball handlers deep in the backcourt, and once Boston pushed through those weeds, Milwaukee’s rim protectors were lurking.

The Celtics either unsuccessfully challenged them, or launched 3-pointers. But Udoka reminded his players, particularly Tatum and Brown, that they can still be dangerous attacking close-outs and settling into mid-range situations that can leave the Bucks’ big men in no-man’s land.  Whenever there are multiple threats, new openings are created elsewhere.

“They have good rim protectors and they protect the paint,” Udoka said, “but it’s not Wilt Chamberlain out there. There’s guys we can get downhill and attack, and we’ve got guys that can finish.”

Along the perimeter, the Celtics used crisp, constant ball movement to ensure that the Bucks were chasing them rather than deterring them.

“In the first game, we did kind of a poor job just getting rushed, just kind of forcing shots up,” Williams said. “The first three that we saw that was open, we shot no matter if there was three people flying at us. So tonight, we just knew that the more we moved it, the more opportunity that would be open.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/04/sports/celtics-were-determined-that-game-2-against-bucks-would-not-be-repeat-series-opener/

[LilRip]

SVG has been absolutely nailing it on commentary:
1. C’s got to the point where they were attacking the rim and still looking to pass despite the Bucks defense softening in the middle
2. Once TL sat, Boston had no answer Bucks action where Giannis was setting the pick and rolling
3. Giannis got away with probably 3 charges down the stretch
4. Tatum is playing with the ball too much. But his relocation has been unstoppable. Tatum needs to watch Steph more
5. C’s need a steady diet of non-threes like mid-range shots and attempts at the rim. However, not settling for the first three was a great adjustment from Udoka

The blueprint is there to beat the bucks but all these points from SVG are absolutely on point. This is why I love having coaches (or players with coach IQ) on the mic because they can’t help but coach.

[wikkid1]

Oh, I thought you were going to say the blatant favoritism for Giannis and swallowing of the whistle for his half dozen charges every game.

Not to mention his “eurostep.”  Guy gets away with more travels than I’ve ever seen.

[Jvalin]

The Bucks are starting 3 bigs in Portis, Giannis, BroLo. Why should we take more shots in the paint? They have an advantage in the paint. We are taking what the defense gives us. That's smart basketball in my book. We should however continue to attack the paint in order to collapse the defense. If no shot is available, we kick it out for an open 3.

[gouki88]

The Bucks are starting 3 bigs in Portis, Giannis, BroLo. Why should we take more shots in the paint? They have an advantage in the paint. We are taking what the defense gives us. That's smart basketball in my book. We should however continue to attack the paint in order to collapse the defense. If no shot is available, we kick it out for an open 3.

Yeah, the threes are good looks. The difference in G2 was we opened with some mid-range attacks, mostly from Jaylen. The threat of a mid-range score stretches them again

[cman88]

you live by the three, die by the three. I dont mind them taking all of them. but the quality of the 3's in the first half and the second half were much different. Also, we saw in the second half the 3's not go down and the Bucks cut into the lead.

first half we were making multiple passes, sprinkling in 2's, driving to the basket. second half, our guys stood around, dribbling too much and jacking up the first 3 that they saw.

I do hope we find a way to score around the rim more. or at least take midrange shots. idk if yocan beat the bucks 4 times just shooting 3's

[JohnBoy65]

I think SVG is a basketball coach that hasn't moved onto the modern era of basketball, and we saw that in NOLA last year. I think the way we played tonight is fine and sustainable.

Let's say we only shot 30% from last night. That'd be 13/43. We still win a close game. I am not sure we can shoot it like that again, but we can certainly shoot it better than game 1 3 more times. So I think we're fine. I more concerned about defensive lapses. There was 3 different 3 minute stretches where we just lost focus defensively.

[gift]

I think he's somewhat correct, in that if we go cold from outside, we're screwed. However, the Celtics were generating a lot of open looks by going to the basket. You can't ask for much better than that. I suppose maybe Milwaukee doesn't help as aggressively and then those shots aren't as open. But it won't take long for Tatum, Brown and White to figure that out and go hard for layups/free throws.

It's a make or miss league. This is going to be a make or miss series. As long as the defense holds up, we won't be without opportunities to win most games.

[seancally]

Our shot chart last night was much better. We also took fewer
3s and made more, I believe. They’ll go to the tape and find even more opportunities to go to the rim, whether it’s Horford not looking at the basket when he catches inside or Tatum and Brown being stronger with the ball. I’d even like to see a couple floaters from White, but might be in the minority there.. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Coach Bud is notorious for not making adjustments in a long series. I think the longer the series goes, the more advantage the Celtics have in the coaching area.

I'm particularly interested in seeing how Ime responds to three things:

1. The Bucks high defensive pressure - what simple adjustment can we make to break that pressure down and get easy shots? I'm particularly interested to see how Tatum responds to Wes Matthews' pressure. Matthews played well, but I find it hard to believe he has the athleticism necessary to stay with Tatum.
2. The Bucks rim protection - what simple adjustments can we make to get Lopez moving side to side and create easier shots at the rim?
3. SVG recognized that the Celtics were not helping the ball handler's defender at all on Giannis' screens. Is there a rotation or counter for that, or is that just the strategy to make Allen, Matthews, and Connaughton beat us going to the rim?

The Bucks are heavily reliant on three point shooting and Giannis breaking the back of the defense inside. It seems like the strategy is to force three point shooters to be drivers and take away that part of the game. It worked this last game.

[hpantazo]

Regarding how to get Lopez away from the basket, how did we do with Grant and Horford out there without Rob? I’m wondering if forcing Lopez to guard someone who can hit the three is enough to pull him out and open the lane for others.

[BringToughnessBack]

Yes, it is not ideal to be depending on 3's but if they are going to continue to give us wide open, then I like our chances. It doesn't hurt to step in a few steps either.

I would like more aggression down low though.

[mobilija]

Oh, I thought you were going to say the blatant favoritism for Giannis and swallowing of the whistle for his half dozen charges every game.

I agree, it's atrocious what they allow that goof to get away with. It makes the games unenjoyable at times.

He is 2nd in the league in offensive fouls. Just saying.

[droopdog7]

Well, we aren't going to find a way to score more inside.  And why should we; Mil defense has a complete advantage against our offense in the paint.

So I guess we'll see whether SVG is right.  I think we can still win the series but the last thing I want is to be running up against a brick wall over and over again.