Bucks (2-1) at Celtics (1-2) Round 2 Game 4 5/6/19

[footey]

My thoughts for tonight's game:

1. Refocus defensive intensity that we showed in game 1.   We can't win by the Bucks scoring 120 points plus.
2. Gordon has to take charge more on the 2nd unit. Run the offense through him.  Gordon has to attack the hoop more and draw fouls in the process. He has gotten back into the habit of kicking the ball out too much after he drives.
3. Try to create more opportunities for transitional offense, which enables us to get more baskets in the paint.  They are too long for paint hoops efficiently from half court sets.
4. Take what the defense gives us.  If it is easy two's, take them. That is how Durant scores a lot of his points. 
5.  Don't get caught up in foul calls. Move on to the next play.
6. Don't let a bad offensive set affect defensive intensity on defense. Kyrie has slipped a lot on his defense the last couple of games. Was much better vs Indy and first Milwaukee game.

[Billz401]

Mark my words, Boston will be allowed to play aggressive D tonight and Giannis will not live at the FT line.
You will see a night and day difference in officiating.

After tonight, if any of you still don't think the NBA nudges these series to last as long as they can, then nothing will convince you.

As for me, I'll be playing some Witcher 3 instead of watching a script I've already read play out.

Who are tonight's officials? That may have bearing on your prediction.

Zarba, Goble and Fraher are our officials. Can't think of anything about them.

TP for the Witcher 3 though. Perhaps my favourite game of all time

Zarba is pretty trash

I don’t have the stats, but I think Zarba tends to favor home teams

Hopefully he does tonight as well. To me, not as terrible as the Marc Davis and Tony Brothers of the world, but on many occasions I've found myself yelling "Screw Zach Zarba!" at my tv lol

[SparzWizard]

Mark my words, Boston will be allowed to play aggressive D tonight and Giannis will not live at the FT line.
You will see a night and day difference in officiating.

After tonight, if any of you still don't think the NBA nudges these series to last as long as they can, then nothing will convince you.

As for me, I'll be playing some Witcher 3 instead of watching a script I've already read play out.

Who are tonight's officials? That may have bearing on your prediction.

Zarba, Goble and Fraher are our officials. Can't think of anything about them.

TP for the Witcher 3 though. Perhaps my favourite game of all time

Zarba is pretty trash

I don’t have the stats, but I think Zarba tends to favor home teams

Hopefully he does tonight as well. To me, not as terrible as the Marc Davis and Tony Brothers of the world, but on many occasions I've found myself yelling "Screw Zach Zarba!" at my tv lol

Never heard of Zarba, Goble, and Fraher so that means it's a good thing, hopefully.

[Kuberski33]

If Smart can play Rozier, shouldn't leave the bench.  Also Hayward needs to do better vs Lopez.  He tried, but couldn't drive around him in the last game.  Have him maybe run the pick @ roll from the top.

[hpantazo]

Hayward and Tatum have been totally disappointing this series. Hayward especially since he was on such a roll going into the playoffs. If those two guys don't turn it around, we can't compete with the Bucks.

[Ilikesports17]

Mark my words, Boston will be allowed to play aggressive D tonight and Giannis will not live at the FT line.
You will see a night and day difference in officiating.

After tonight, if any of you still don't think the NBA nudges these series to last as long as they can, then nothing will convince you.

As for me, I'll be playing some Witcher 3 instead of watching a script I've already read play out.

Who are tonight's officials? That may have bearing on your prediction.

Zarba, Goble and Fraher are our officials. Can't think of anything about them.

TP for the Witcher 3 though. Perhaps my favourite game of all time

Zarba is pretty trash

I don’t have the stats, but I think Zarba tends to favor home teams

Hopefully he does tonight as well. To me, not as terrible as the Marc Davis and Tony Brothers of the world, but on many occasions I've found myself yelling "Screw Zach Zarba!" at my tv lol

Never heard of Zarba, Goble, and Fraher so that means it's a good thing, hopefully.

Zarba is a pretty big name, but the others are new to me as well.

[FLCeltsFan]

Official Report
Zach Zarba - Zarba has been good in some games, letting the teams play.  He has also been bad in some games.  There are a few games where he has favored the Celtics with his calls and a few where the calls have gone against them.  It depends on the game. Tommy has had a few choice rants against Zarba in the past.   His home W/L record this season is 37-28.  He has called 7 games in the playoffs so far and this will be his first as crew chief.  He averages 40  foul calls per game with 48.5% of them on the home team. The Celtics are 5-5 in their last 10 games with Zarba while the Bucks are 8-2 in their last 10.

John Goble - Goble can be good or bad depending on the game.    Usually, though he doesn't favor one team over the other he just either calls everything or lets both teams play. There isn't a lot of controversy around him.   His home W/L record this season is 39-28.   He has called 4 games in these playoffs, all crew.  He calls 45 fouls per game with 53% of those called against the home team.  Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games with Goble.

Pat Fraher - Fraher has been a decent ref for the most part with no particular games that stand out as poorly officiated.  He has called 5 games in the playoffs (1 main and 4 crew).  He calls 42 fouls per game with 46% of those going against the home team.  The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Fraher while the Bucks are 5-5 in their last 10 games with him. 

[SparzWizard]

The Celtics need to start fouling Giannis hard. If he's driving into the hoop with a surefire dunk or low-post shot, get in his way and block his hand but don't go for his head.

And make him fall down hard. He needs to earn every shot he takes.

[hpantazo]

The Celtics need to start fouling Giannis hard. If he's driving into the hoop with a surefire dunk or low-post shot, get in his way and block his hand but don't go for his head.

And make him fall down hard. He needs to earn every shot he takes.

Modern NBA rules on what they consider flagrant fouls has killed this strategy unfortunately. It's the ongoing wussification of the NBA to promote scoring for marketing purposes.

[fairweatherfan]

Do we know if Smart is playing yet? Would love to see him give us a spark like he did last year against Milwaukee.

UPDATE: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH YES

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1125505675436658689

[jpotter33]

http://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1125507191283302401

Smart is playing, baby! Welcome back to the heart and soul of our team!

[hpantazo]

http://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1125507191283302401

Smart is playing, baby! Welcome back to the heart and soul of our team!

What's the over/under for how quickly he re-injures himself diving for a loose ball?

[Phantom255x]

Boy I'm excited to watch us go against Giannis Attemptafreethrow tonight 

(If there was a barfing emoji here I'd post that too)

[LilRip]

Let’s go C’s!!! It’s a must win game for us. Wouldn’t be surprised if our team looks super locked in today.

[manl_lui]

http://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1125507191283302401

Smart is playing, baby! Welcome back to the heart and soul of our team!

What's the over/under for how quickly he re-injures himself diving for a loose ball?

let's goooo!!! Hype! go get em Smart!