Celts @ Bucks - Round 2, Game 6 - Pregame Thoughts

The ultimate test for our Celtics begins tonight against the Bucks on the road.

Can we win this game?

Absolutely yes.    If you are feeling doubts, that is understandable.   Just do not let those doubts dominate  Your mindset.  We need super positive energy.

I expect our guys to hit the boards really hard.  They can take that advantage away from the Bucks.

As I am watching Giannis, we are not being physical enough with him.  The help defense is coming a bit too late.  We could double him up more and that can work but only if we  can rotate to the open guy.  
Basically we have to be laser focused and laser quick.  There is no way Giannis should be allowed to make layup after layup.  The no layup rule needs to be in full effect tonight.  Theis is going to get called for fouls anyways so he needs to make them count.  NO And 1's.

On offense , we are going to take 3 pointers but I really hate to see us do that early in the shot clock before everyone gets to touch the basketball.  Jayson and Jaylen both get into the bad habit of launching 3 pointers as soon as we cross half court.  We need to make their defense work.  That can only happen when you move the rock.  

In general, we need to be more selective on offense and for Pete's sake don't turn the ball over especially up top.

Our team has been through a lot of this season.  Us fans have supported them.  I know that they could have won every game this series if they consistently played the right way.

I am not going to even mention anything other than the need to win tonight.  

I am extremely confident that we can do just that

We will have a gut check from this team tonight.  I believe the true Celtic heart and character will shine through.

Amen.

db

P.S. On ESPN Injuries, RWIII is listed as day-to-day which I believe is the highest and from which most players have shown up for the next game. The comments still indicate "questionable for G5", though. Well, since there's potentially no tomorrow, might was well Willis Reed him tonight.

Great RWill is out again, guess I won’t have to see him get run over by Giannis again. On that play, don’t think I’ve ever seen a big run over so completely like that. I understand it should have been an obvious foul on Giannis, but as a big you still can’t let any player run over you so completely like that, so that your flat on your back like that. Hire a wrestling coach or something, learn how to sprawl, it’s defense against a wrestling takedown. It’s a copycat league, once they know your soft, they know how to attack you, RWill can jump, but he’s too soft.

You’d never see Cowens or Silas or Perk or KG get run over like that, and they went against all the best hard nosed bigs in the game of their time, don’t remember any of those guys missing 3 playoff games in a row either.

Boston Celtics @celtics
about 49 minutes ago
#NEBHInjuryReport update: Rob Williams- OUT

A bone bruise. Now, I'm not a medical professional but I do believe that bruises will not produce any permanent damage, especially in a 24 year old athlete. It's just pain management and pain management for injuries this relatively minor, is mental.


Bob


.

Has anyone read Udoka's comments about RW being out for game 6?

It sounds to me like he is referencing the meniscus injury and mentions nothing about the bone bruise. Although, it is possible the the bone bruise on the knee aggravated his surgically repaired knee. Udoka is pretty candid about what's going on with Rob so we should really rely on what he is saying and not our own half-baked scenarios.

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka shared an update on Williams' status on Thursday.

"We're waiting to hear on how he feels," Udoka said on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak & Bertrand. "It's really a soreness issue. Swelling is gone, it's just a matter of some general soreness. I think technically you're gonna have that after some surgeries, regardless of the four-to-six (weeks) window or him coming back three-and-a-half weeks in. So, when you're going through his rehab process, he's gonna have a day where he's a little more sore and then it settles down.

"Even between the second and third game and the first and second game when we had the three-day break it benefitted him, but then it started going every other day. Had one flareup where it got a little swollen, the swelling went down, and now we're waiting to see the soreness goes away. As far as that, we'll see what happens when he gets reevaluated today, but looking forward to having him back at some point."

I guess we will hear something tomorrow about his availability for game 7.  I have  a gut feeling that he will be activated.  Maybe give us some minutes off the bench.

The good news is whether he plays or not, we've had tons of experience with him in and out of the line up with good success either way.

Even if he Willis Reed's it for a few minutes, it will be extremely positive.

db