What’s it like to run full speed into a set of sharp deer antlers?
Just ask the Boston Celtics.
Boston was red-hot heading into the All-Star break, winning 12 of 15 games. The next contest, however, will not be an easy win. The Celtics are going on the road to face the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks in a crucial Eastern Conference showdown.
Milwaukee and Boston split a pair of games late in 2018. Bookmakers are careful to recall the Bucks’ win in December, in which the club went on a 16-0 run early and triumphed 120-107.
The Vegas spread for Thursday night’s 8 PM EST tip-off at Fiserv Forum gives a (-5.5) point nod to the Bucks.
Phi Beta Buckets
Milwaukee has an exceptional offense led by one of brightest young faces of the NBA in Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo.
But it’s also the defense that has ignited the franchise in 2018-19.
1st-year head coach Mike Budenholzer has gotten his charges to crank up the heat on their own end of the floor. The Bucks take pride in never giving up an easy bucket at the rim.
Milwaukee’s smothering unit tops the league in FG % allowed at just 43% (which of course includes dunks, lay-ups, and easy garbage-time jumpers). Fast-break points come at a premium for any opponent. Milwaukee leads the league in points allowed in the first :10 after scoring or otherwise giving-up possession. Teams are posting single-digit transition-game totals against Budenholzer’s club on an average night.
Despite playing excellent defense in the paint, Budenholzer’s squad is susceptible to hot shooting from downtown. The Bucks give up an NBA-worst 12.7 made 3-pointers per game.
In a recent 118-112 defeat to the OKC Thunder, opposing forward Paul George went 8-of-12 from beyond the arc, and Oklahoma City hit half of its 32 trey attempts.
You can’t argue with a 43-14 record, however. It’s a game of “pick your poison,” and the Bucks allow rivals to attempt open 3-pointers and make protecting the glass their focal point. It works over the long run.
New Hope in New England
The Boston Celtics have a solid 2-way game of their own. Brad Stevens has kept the team moored in a style that brought the Celtics within a win of an NBA Finals appearance last season.
Presently in his 6th season with the team, Stevens led the Celtics to the NBA’s best defensive rating last season, helping ring-up a 55-27 record.
Boston displays brilliant court awareness and a high-energy level, qualities missing from lesser lights around the league. Scoring is great, but a versatile and club that hustles will almost always prevail against teams with slump-and-watch defenders (looking at you, James Hardin).
After a rocky start to the season, the Celtics have clawed their way into the thick of the Eastern Conference race. The defense has allowed only 44.3% from the floor. The Celtics’ are also 2nd-best in the league defending the 3-pointer, allowing opponents to shoot just 34% from downtown.
Celtic defenders are prodding teams into costly turnovers. The Green & White rank 3rd in the NBA with 8.8 steals per game. Opponents have averaged only 45.1 points in the paint, which has propelled the Celtics to the top 5 in the NBA in yet another category.
In a crucial win over the Philadelphia 76ers right before the All-Star break, the defense carried the Celtics over the hump with a 112-109 result. The Celtics were precise with the ball, committing only 5 turnovers while shooting 44.8% from 3-point range. A prodigious night from Gordon Hayward off the bench helped rally the Celtics.
Players to Watch in Milwaukee
All eyes will be focused on MVP candidate Antetokounmpo, who is having the most prolific season of his still-developing career.
The Greek Freak is averaging 27.2 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 6 assists. He’s reveling in the best shooting of his life at 58.1% and getting to the foul stripe with ease.
Milwaukee point guard Eric Bledsoe has been everywhere on the court, averaging 5.4 assists and a team-high 1.5 steals to add to his double-figure scoring average.
The Bucks made a colossal splash before the trade deadline by acquiring 3-point specialist Nikola Mirotic from the New Orleans Pelicans in a 3-team deal. The Bucks are already tied for 2nd in the NBA with 13.1 made 3’s per game, and that number should go up thanks to the big man with a long range.
Kyrie Irving has been terrific for Boston upon returning from knee surgery. The 20-year-old PG has averaged 23.6 points and 6.9 assists in 2018-19.
Jayson Tatum has also improved his production in a stellar sophomore campaign. The 20 year-old is the only player to start every game for the Celtics this season and played in the Rising Stars Challenge over the break.
Despite Gordon Hayward’s slow return from an ankle injury, he has posted a string of solid performances in recent games. The 6’8” small forward has been on fire in his last 3 outings with more than 60 points scored.
My Prediction ATS
Wagerbop’s lean is on the Bucks’ smart defense to hold Boston under the team’s scoring average of 113 while producing enough inside buckets to cover a modest (-5.5) spread at home.
Take the Bucks to cover and snag a few bucks at the sportsbook.
Kurt has authored close to 1000 stories covering football, soccer, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, prize-fighting and the Olympic Games. Kurt posted a 61% win rate on 200+ college and NFL gridiron picks last season. He muses about High School football on social media as The Gridiron Geek.
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