POST GAME MIL BUCKS - ROUND 1 - GAME #2 - HOME

Celtics Wrap: Jaylen Brown’s 30 Points Lift Boston To Game 2 Win Over Bucks

NESN by Adam London on Tue, Apr 17, 2018 at 10:26PM

BOSTON — Game 2 wasn’t as thrilling as Game 1, but it culminated with the same result for the Boston Celtics. Behind Jaylen Brown’s 30 points, the Celtics cruised to a 120-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden in the second installment of their first-round NBA playoff series. While Brown was the star for Boston in Game 2, it was an all-around strong night on offense for the C’s. The green collectively shot 53 percent from the field and had five players score in double figures, which helped them overcome Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 30 points. With the win, the Celtics improve to 2-0 in the series. Here’s how it all went down:

STARTING FIVE PG: Terry Rozier SG: Jaylen Brown SF: Jayson Tatum PF: Al Horford C: Aron Baynes

JAYLEN BROWN SHOW The Celtics jumped out to a 33-22 lead after one quarter of play, and more than a third of their points were scored by Brown. The second-year guard notched a game-high 12 points in the frame, including a pair of 3-pointers and this thunderous slam: Boston could have had a much larger lead after the opening 12 minutes had it not been for Antetokounmpo. The star forward was nearly unstoppable in the first few minutes and finished the quarter with a team-high 10 points. The C’s also were much more careful with the ball early on, committing only one turnover to the Bucks’ seven.

SLOW START, STRONG FINISH The Bucks were the far more aggressive team to start the second quarter, ripping off a 13-0 run to tie the game at 35-35. But as the frame progressed, the Celtics got into a rhythm, closing the half on a 25-16 run to take a 60-51 lead into the break. Rozier led the way for Boston in the second, scoring seven points to bring his first-half total to 14. Marcus Morris also had a strong quarter, chipping in six points on a pair of 3-pointers. Milwaukee’s usual suspects carried the visitors in the frame, as Antetokounmpo pitched in eight while Khris Middleton posted 10 points after being held scoreless in the first quarter.

DÉJÀ VU The Bucks let history repeat itself in the third quarter, as Brown effectively had his way with Milwaukee’s defense much like he did in the first. The 21-year-old scored 10 points in the frame, including two 3-pointers, to help Boston take a 90-75 lead into the fourth. The Bucks cut the deficit to six halfway through the quarter, but the Boston’s efficient offense powered the home team back to a double-digit lead. The C’s also received a strong energy boost from the bench. Greg Monroe completed a strong and-1 play that fired up the crowd and galvanize Boston’s run, while Shane Larkin contributed seven points, including this trey from long distance that beat the third-quarter horn:

FINISHING TOUCHES The Celtics weren’t going to let this one turn into a nail-biter like Sunday afternoon. Instead, Boston put the foot on the gas and prevented Milwaukee from making any sort of threatening comeback. The C’s received a boost from their bench in crunch time, as the trio of Morris, Monroe and Larkin combined to score 14 points. Boston’s staters also came up clutch, as Rozier, Brown and Horford each hit 3-pointers down the stretch to help put the game out of reach.

PLAY OF THE GAME After going coast to coast, it was only right for Horford to finish the sequence with an emphatic dunk.

UP NEXT The series now shifts to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Friday. Tip-off from BMO Harris Bradley Center is set for 9:30 p.m. ET
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Ainge: Hayward to work with running specialist in Indianapolis

NBC SPORTS BOSTON By Abby Chin April 17, 2018 12:48 PM


Gordon Hayward will not be with the Celtics in the early going of the playoffs, Danny Ainge said Tuesday morning.

With Hayward recently beginning jogging, Ainge said the team is sending him to Indianapolis for the next phase of the rehab process to work with a leading specialist in running mechanics. Both the Celtics and Hayward have worked with the specialist before. Ainge added that he thinks Hayward is progressing nicely.

In a video posted earlier this month, Hayward was seen jogging on the court with trainer Jason Smeathers.

Although the team does not expect Hayward to return from his ankle injury until next season, the Celtics' priority is for Hayward to continue his rehab rather than be with the team
112288

Great rhythm by the Celtics tonight and smart basketball. No hero ball, no wild shooting..............just smart basketball by attaching the paint and ball movement with a touch of a fast break thrown in.

LET'S GO CELTICS!

112288

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2018/04/17/celtics-120-bucks-106-lackluster-milwaukee-falls-into-2-0-hole-series/522508002/

anyone hear why Yabusele replaced Semi in the rotation last night?

kdp59 wrote:anyone hear why Yabusele replaced Semi in the rotation last night?

I was wondering the same. Did  shimmy
 take the floor for the last minute or 2?

The exchange of Ojeleye and Yabusele was a little confusing for me as well.

If nothing else, the Cs lost some defense with this move. Perhaps they were hoping to get more offense?

I thought it was to put another big body on the floor so they don't lose the physicality they had. Wear Giannis down over the course of the series since he'll be dealing with a lot of strength all game, both sides. Yabusele hustles constantly. Has to be a bit of work dealing with him. Bucks only using 2 bigs so far.

Ojeleye PLAYED 1 MINUTE.

YOU NEED A WIDE BODY TO BOX OUT ON REBOUNDS AND FILL THE PAINT ON DEFENSE.

AS ANY YOUNG GUY WITH LACK OF PLAYING TIME.......MORE HE PLAYS HIS SHOOTING WILL IMPROVE.

112288

Always a good sign when you are in the playoffs, and the first two threads I open this morning are going on and on about Semi vs. Yabu.  Must mean the top of the ticket is performing well.

I understand, this board at times - is like a 24 hour talk radio station, in that people feel the need to talk about (and often complain about) something. But some of this stuff - particularly the incessant second guessing of Coach Stevens, just makes me shake my head

Hi,
It was a great W.
Despite JT being off the rest of the team shot lights out.
The only thing I don't understand why Brad's using Baynes so much: he doesn't shoot mid-range jumpers (as he used to), he doesn't try to post, Bucks don't have big, powerful center? Monroe, IMO, looked much better.
I have the same ??? as others about using GY instead of Semi. My guess would be that Brad didn't like what he saw from Semi in the first game and decided to try Yabu.
Overall, 2-0 is a good start.

AK

sinus007 wrote:Hi,
It was a great W.
Despite JT being off the rest of the team shot lights out.
The only thing I don't understand why Brad's using Baynes so much: he doesn't shoot mid-range jumpers (as he used to), he doesn't try to post, Bucks don't have big, powerful center? Monroe, IMO, looked much better.
I have the same ??? as others about using GY instead of Semi. My guess would be that Brad didn't like what he saw from Semi in the first game and decided to try Yabu.
Overall, 2-0 is a good start.

AK

I think these go along with my response earlier. Playing Yabusele and Baynes is about bringing size and toughness and physically overwhelming a Bucks team that doesn't have bigs.

One of the best things that could have happened for us was that Miami beat Cleveland the night before.  Really brought home that work they put in all season to secure home court advantage has value ONLY if you win at home in the playoffs.  Not only did winning last night put a lot of pressure on the Bucks it also shuts those Bucks fans who were chanting "Bucks in 6!" in our last game against them.

They shot almost 60% from the field, and lost.  The game was won/lost with possessions.  They had 15 turnovers, we had a paltry 5.  They had 3 steals, we had 10.  Those additional possessions allowed us to take 13 more fgas.  Neither team shot fritos well (41% for them, 61% for us) but we took a comparable number of ftas.  The difference was their sloppiness and our aggressiveness. They shot almost 60% and lost by 14, and it could have been worse. Let that sink in, Bucks fans...

It's hard to describe just how overwhelming The Freak is.  It would be easier to describe him, at least as human, if the refs called traveling on him once in a while.  He travels a lot and, with those legs, he can get all the separation he wants.

Brian Robb
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When you're trying to figure out how you lost a game by 14 points even though your team shot 59 percent from field.



Middleton is a shooter.  He's not a great driver, although he does some, he's primarily a catch-and-shooter.  Get and stay on his shooting hand.  If he drives, force him to his left.  Period.  If he drives he drives but that is not his first inclination so you'll have a chance to recover and/or rotate if he does.  Let him hold the ball and give him any daylight and he's going to have a big night.  Like Giannis he's also very good in the open floor (the Bucks are most effective when they are running).  Jaylen did a good job of limiting Middleton's fast break opportunities.  In fact, the Bucks and Celtics ended up tied with 15 fast break points.  Anytime you can tie a team with an open floor player like Johnny Attentivemumble (another would be Philly with Simmons) you've executed an excellent game plan.

Delly-va-diver played 5 minutes and I was petrified every second he was that another Celtic would go down with a knee injury because he accidentally-on-purpose fell on their legs.

Thon Maker played 1 minute, got T'd up and wasn't even in the game when he got it.  A #10 pick and he played <17mpg this season (his 2nd).

Jaylen Brown is a freaking stud.  This is the best I've seen Jaylen play, on both ends of the court.  His confidence is bursting out so brightly it's blinding.  He feels he can take anybody, and he can.  He matched Giannis' 30 points and, anytime you can efficiently cancel out the other team's best player, we're in good shape to win.  A friend of mine told me, last night after the game, that we should trade him for Kawhi.  I said "ok, but I can't think of anybody else on the Spurs I'd want thrown into the deal to make it fair".  Maybe a bit strong, Kawhi IS one of the top players in the game while Jaylen MAY BECOME one of the top players in the game, but his rookie contract and youth and lack of repeated injuries (including a mysterious one that defied medical definition that kept him out the entire season) mean something too.  My friend thought I was joking.  I was only half-joking.  This kid is going to be something else, he's already starting to blossom before our eyes while under tremendous pressure to carry this team without our #1 scorer and #1 defender, and he's not even 21 1/2 yet.  A personal playoff high 30 points for Jaylen.  He is the youngest Celtic to score 30 in a playoff game @ 21 years, 175 days.  The Celtic he beat out?  Tommy Gun Heinsohn (1957 vs Syracuse.  30 points in game 2 @ age 22, 209 days, and then the iconic double OT game 7 vs St. Louis when he had 37 points and 23 rebounds @ age 22, 230 days).  Not bad company, huh?  These playoffs are going to elevate him into All-Star discussion position.  Fans are seeing him now on the big stage and are realizing how much he is to be feared.  He is showing he is becoming Jimmy Butler 2.0 even sooner than Jimmy Butler became Jimmy Butler and that is glorious for Celtic Planet.

Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
yesterday
Brad Stevens on Jaylen Brown: “I think Jaylen loves the moment.” Praises Jaylen’s ability to raise his level against better teams.

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Welcome back to Earth, Jayson.  What goes up, with rookies, usually come down.  Now you need to get back up.

Baynes is a well known foodie.  No wonder he's so big, he ate an entire team's worth of Wilsonburgers last night.  

Rozier with another magnificent game.  Bledsoe came on in the 2nd half but Rozier has been consistently outplaying a player who was considered one of the next crop of All-Star point guards.  Even the TNT announcer last night knew his nickname, "Scary Terry". He has played 78 minutes through 2 games and has ZERO turnovers.



Bledsoe, on the other hand, is trying to play mind games with himself.  Sounds like he's trying to convince himself he isn't being completely outplayed.

Matt Velazquez
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I asked Eric Bledsoe about Terry Rozier’s strong start to the series and if he takes that matchup personally. He responded, “Who?” I said, “Terry Rozier.”

Bledsoe: “I don’t even know who the $@%# that is.”

8:06 PM - 17 Apr 2018


Bill Doyle @BillDoyle15
yesterday
Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown @Jaylen Brown have outscored Bucks starting backcourt of Eric Bledsoe and Tony Snell, 96-25, in first two games of series.

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Horford is playing the best ball I've seen him play.  He didn't score like he did in game 1 but he hit BIG shots.  Giannis' effectiveness clearly declines when he is being guarded by Al Horford.  When he gets a switch and is guarded by ANY other Celtic it's easy pickin's but not if Al's got him.  The amazing versatility of Al Horford.  If he was 5 years younger this team would be the scourge of the league for the next decade because the core (Irving, Brown, Tatum, Smart/Rozier) would be that talented.

Larkin was a great spark plug off the bench.  He drove, repeatedly, to the rim.  Danny has his share of screw-ups, mostly in bigs (e.g. Fab Melo) but he does have a good eye for wings and back court players.  He saw something in IT and he saw it in Shane Larkin.  I remember when Larkin was in the draft Danny liked him a lot (that was the draft year he traded up from 16 to 13 to pick Kelly.  Larkin was taken 18 by Dallas).  Another reclamation project by Brad that has turned the player's career around.  

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
yesterday
Shane Larkin on the C's camaraderie: "We fight together and we fight for each other. When you have a team like that, it's really tough to beat."

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Mook Morris is fast becoming a Celtic legend. He and Middleton were getting very physical and feisty. After fouling Middleton, and the two of them starting to jaw, Morris walked away and started pumping up the crowd. He then went down to the other end of the floor and hit a 3 in his face and talked some more.

Tom Halzack @TomHalzack
yesterday
Marcus Morris is the Paul Silas of this version of the Celtics.

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Jay King @ByJayKing
yesterday
Marcus Morris said he has no hard feelings for Khris Middleton: “I’ve been competing with Khris since college when we used to beat their ass at Kansas.”

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It wasn't as thrilling a game as game 1, and thank you God for that.  It also made a statement, and that statement is "The most dangerous animals are wounded animals".  They wanted us, they got us.  Be careful what you ask for, Wisconsin, you should have been careful what you asked for.

2 down, 14 to go.

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401029430





bob


.

I know he didn't have much of a scoring day but it seemed like possession after possession that the Bucks kept having the ball deflected when it was around Tatum.

Love me some Mook.  

Bob

On Al being older, it’s okay can’t have everything in life, just glad we have what we have on this team. Al takes care of himself, still plays great D, he can coast during season and be there for big moments. Our Draymond Green who was pushing for Jaylen to be an all star this year....Love the tenacity, energy and purpose this young team plays with and the guy that sets the tone both ends is Jaylen who even Steven A loves. I had said about 3 weeks ago Jaylen is already better than young Dominique and I was serious, some said not now....yeah now!!! He’s a much better defender, more versatile, as explosive and better outside shooter, once his handle gets better, he’ll be much better than what young Dominique was, and defense is half the game. Dominique couldn’t play the 2.

I know I have ripped him, but Morris is fearless and has clutch ability, and was huge in 4th when Bucks started chipping into lead. Terry Rozier is incredible, still learning on the fly in playoffs and no turnovers in 2 games, who does that? He may be 3rd most athletic point in league after Westbrook and Wall and is clearly kicking Bledsoe’s ass. Also love the poise overall of the team, a few lulls, but nothing like game 1 2nd quarter. Agreed
seeing 76ers lose made our team more aware of the moment and we responded. Now let’s see how we do on the road, great time to be a Celtic fan!!!

cow

mrkleen09 wrote:Love me some Mook.  

MrKleen,

"Revenge is a dish best served cold", and that was very cold.


bob


.

KyleCleric wrote:I know he didn't have much of a scoring day but it seemed like possession after possession that the Bucks kept having the ball deflected when it was around Tatum.

Agreed he and Jaylen so get after it on that end....almost unfair to have 2 young wings this good on the same team, giddy giddy.

The last turnover was Larkin running out  the clock, so we really only had 4 turnovers. Incredible execution!

mrkleen09 wrote:Always a good sign when you are in the playoffs, and the first two threads I open this morning are going on and on about Semi vs. Yabu.  Must mean the top of the ticket is performing well.

I understand, this board at times - is like a 24 hour talk radio station, in that people feel the need to talk about (and often complain about) something.  But some of this stuff - particularly the incessant second guessing of Coach Stevens, just makes me shake my head

I don`t know about anyone else , but I wasn`t complaining. Just wondering if Semi was hurt, since he is usually in the rotation. He did get in for that last minute. We need everybody to stay healthy, since we are down to 11 guys until agent Smart comes back. Bucks used 12 last night. 

It shouldn't be lost on everyone that the Bucks tanked their last game of the season, losing to Philly by 35 so they could play us.

steve3344 wrote:It shouldn't be lost on everyone that the Bucks tanked their last game of the season, losing to Philly by 35 so they could play us.

Hi,
I didn't know that. What a bummer

AK

Didn't get to watch much of the game as I was on the road to the Grand Canyon with my son Joshu. We had a great day hiking in the Canyon and we are now in Hurricane Ut for the Zion NP 100mile trail race that Joshu will be running Friday and Saturday.

But what is clear is that Jaylen is staking his claim to ever increasing elite type status. It's pretty incredible how good the end of this roster is playing. We are going to get out of the first round. Marcus is going to return and then we shall see if this magical journey continues.


https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30740017_10211713847103464_4385038257804426165_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=ef52b5cc47b5c265c2cfdcceee20592b&oe=5B54758F

Scott Souza @Scott_Souza
about 5 hours ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he went with Guerschon Yabusele early in Game 2 b/c of his quickness for his size & to give him "taste" of playoff speed if he had to go to him late.
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bob
MY NOTE:  Brad's always thinking, always planning and anticipating, always as ready as he can be.



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