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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 11:02:18 GMT -5
Did the Bucks find something with Thon Maker?by Alex Eddy Photo Credit: Unknown ProviderThe Milwaukee Bucks might have found a valuable piece against the Boston Celtics in Thon MakerAfter tallying one minute of playing time in the first two games of this series, Thon Maker got his chance in Game 3 with John Henson sidelined (back soreness). Although Tyler Zeller took the spot in the starting lineup, Maker made a huge impact off the bench in 24 minutes. Maker finished with 14 points, five rebounds, five blocks, and was 3-4 from 3-point range. He brought so much energy and passion to the court and he really got the crowd involved. His blocks and 3-pointers really lit up the Bradley Center. I think it is safe to say that he has earned his playing time for the remainder of the series. Maker isn’t going to go 3-4 from downtown every night (he shot 29.8 percent from 3-point range during the regular season), but he spreads the floor out more than Henson does. Henson primarily operates in the paint and contributes with hook shots, putbacks, and dunks. Maker can play on the perimeter and can open up space for his teammates to operate on offense. Now, Maker wasn’t the only reason for the 116-92 victory last night. The Boston Celtics only shot 40 percent from the field for the game, Terry Rozier wasn’t the Terry Rozier from the first two games, Khris Middleton continues to hit ridiculously tough shots, and Jabari Parker dropped 17 points in 30 minutes after he let it be known that he wasn’t happy after the first two games of the series. The Celtics also had 18 turnovers, which doubled Milwaukee’s. Plus, it doesn’t help when the Milwaukee Bucks have 13 blocks and eight steals, while the Celtics only have two blocks and three steals. The Celtics had their worst game of the series by far in Game 3. However, Maker is a big part of this series going forward. He gives you the defense and length that Henson provides, but he adds way more on the offensive end of the floor. He adds an entirely new dynamic. The problem for the Celtics is that since Al Horford is on Giannis, Aron Baynes has to stick with Maker. We saw what happened when Baynes was too late on the closeout and fouled Maker from 3-point range. Baynes can bully and bang with bigs down low, but that is really it. Perhaps the Celtics will play more zone in Game 4. They need to make some defensive adjustments quickly. It is not easy because the Bucks have so much length and versatility to deal with. The Celtics can’t let the crowd get into the game early on and they need to take care of the basketball in Game 4. You can’t fall behind double digits so early in the first quarter. Game 4 is going to be extremely important because going home up 3-1 is so much different than a tied series at 2-2. hardwoodhoudini.com/2018/04/21/boston-celtics-bucks-find-something-thon-maker/
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 11:24:27 GMT -5
Three strategies the Celtics can use to counter the Bucks' switchesBy: Greg Cassoli The Milwaukee Bucks stymied the Boston Celtics with switches in Game 3 of their first-round series.
The Milwaukee Bucks caught the Boston Celtics off guard with a new defensive philosophy in Game 3 of the two teams’ first-round series on Friday, switching the majority of the Celtics’ actions both on and off the ball. The impact of Milwaukee’s strategy was both instant and substantial. The Bucks held the Celtics to just 92 points, using their length and athleticism as disruptive forces, regardless of individual matchups. Switching proved so effective that it’s hard to imagine Milwaukee rolling with any other approach in Game 4. We’ve laid out a few things that the Celtics can do to counter it. ATTACK MISMATCHES INTELLIGENTLYPerhaps the greatest flaw of a switch-heavy approach is that it exposes a defense to exploitable mismatches. The best switching units have enough versatile defenders to negate the dangers of cross-positional matchups. There is, for instance, a major difference between Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic switching onto a point guard. Targeting the former in isolation is far less appealing than the latter. Green is a special case. He’s arguably the best defender in the NBA, stout enough to handle assignments on the block and quick enough to lock up opponents on the perimeter. Milwaukee doesn’t have a defender of Green’s caliber, but it does have a handful of players that fit his general archetype. Boston needs to be more selective in the ways it attempts to attack them, focusing on creating scoring opportunities against the Bucks’ less versatile defensive options. Not every mismatch is created equal. The Celtics learned that in attempting to score against Thon Maker on Friday. Maker is a center, but has quick enough feet to make things difficult for wings and guards with presumed mismatches against him. ssl.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/nba/wsc/2018/04/21/league_ff709827-7665-1a61-3bec-bf70fb14ab3b.nba_2325629_1920x1080_5904.mp4?_=1Boston would be better served leveraging Milwaukee’s willingness to switch to get any of the Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier trio in a position to attack a player like Jabari Parker or Malcolm Brogdon off the bounce. ssl.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/nba/wsc/2018/04/15/league_f7eb9395-880f-205e-9986-b2f265d57e14.nba_2311003_1280x720_3500.mp4?_=2If the Celtics want to use a size advantage, posting Khris Middleton with true bigs has proven relatively fruitful and doing the same with wings against Matthew Dellavedova holds some potential as well. ssl.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/nba/wsc/2018/04/18/league_ea91aa65-aa8a-c3e9-cc03-df128c3a94da.nba_2316754_1920x1080_5904.mp4?_=3Exploiting mismatches means running specific actions to create them in the first place, a tactic Boston won’t be able to utilize if it turns the ball over as easily and as frequently as it did in Game 3. SLIPPING SCREENSThere is a brief moment in the seconds in which a screen is being set where a defensive switch is yet to be actualized. It’s fleeting, but if the screener times his move just right, a slip can create chaos. If both defenders believe that the screener is their responsibility, the ball handler gets an open look. If both commit to the ball handler, then the screener is open with momentum heading to the hoop. The defense is forced into rotation in order to keep the offense from a dunk or layup, opening up shooting windows and creating opportunities to attack closeouts. Slipping screens isn’t as simple as it sounds. It requires precision. Go a second too early or too late and the defense can simply stay home or is able to execute its switch as anticipated. Boston should experiment with the strategy regardless. The consequences for a failed slip are relatively low. The Celtics can just move the ball and set up another action. EXPERIMENT WITH STRETCHES OF BULLY BALLThe Bucks’ most switchable lineups are vulnerable on the glass. Boston can play around with trying to exploit that reality and, in fact, it has. Brad Stevens tested out an Aron Baynes Greg Monroe pairing during the second quarter of Game 3. The Celtics brutalized Milwaukee on the boards, posting a ludicrous 57.1% offensive rebound rate and subsequent 133.3 offensive rating. Boston’s supersized unit proved to be too flammable defensively to be relied on moving forward, buckling under the weight of an atrocious 163.6 defensive rating. The numbers here are obviously skewed. The second period Baynes/Monroe bash brothers frontcourt only logged seven minutes of game time. The results were bad enough to make pursuing a similar strategy in the future something of a last resort, but if the Celtics can find a way to defend at a reasonable rate then going big holds a modicum of potential. — Boston will likely implement components of all of the above in Game 4. Having experienced the Bucks’ new look will go a long way in clarifying the team’s game plan. The Celtics actually started adjusting to their new reality on the fly. Boston was outscored by just one point in the second half of Game 3. That should provide plenty of reason for optimism. Brad Stevens is whip smart. He’ll have his team ready for Milwaukee’s switches on Sunday. If they can execute what is sure to be an intelligently designed scheme than the onus of tactical adjustments is likely to be transferred back to the Bucks. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/21/three-strategies-the-celtics-can-use-to-counter-the-bucks-switches/
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 11:27:18 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 11:36:35 GMT -5
The Celtics will have to flip the switch on switchesThe playoffs are all about adjustments. In Game 3, the Bucks started switching on defense and limited the Celtics to only 92 points.By wjsy Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesAdjustments, adjustments, adjustments. A seven-game series is a chess match and after two losses in Boston, the Bucks made the first one: For most of the season, Milwaukee has had a middling NBA defense on the backs--really, on the arms and legs--of their length. They were second in the league in points of turnovers (18.3 ppg) and could keep teams at bay on their reach alone. On Friday night, they flipped a switch...literally. Instead of playing a more traditional D, the Bucks switched on screens and off ball action and the Celtics admittedly panicked. Brad Stevens said: The optimist could say that the Celtics got what they wanted: looks in the restricted area and three pointers. Shots just weren’t falling. Here’s the shot chart from Game 3: It’s become a common theme in this series, but what killed them at the Bradley Center Friday night were turnovers (18 for 20 points) and blocked shots (a whopping 13, 5 by Thon Maker). The Bucks are not your typical switching team. streamable.com/q3b4m One of Boston’s biggest issues in Game 3 was that when they did force a switch in their favor, they didn’t take advantage. Stevens criticized his team for trying to hit home runs. This should have been a drive and kick by Rozier. Instead, he settles for a contested step back 3. streamable.com/axtc7Here’s Jayson Tatum ISOing against Giannis Antetokounmpo. With plenty of time on the shot clock, Tatum pulls up for another three pointer. With plenty of time on the shot clock, the ball could have been rotated to Horford in the post against Matthew Dellavedova. streamable.com/w5ah0In addition to replacing the injured John Henson with Tyler Zeller, Bucks head coach Joe Prunty inserted Malcolm Brogdon into the starting lineup. The reigning Rookie of the Year is two inches shorter than Tony Snell, but he’s stronger and tougher defending the post ups and drives. In Boston, Jaylen Brown could get a step, turn the corner, and power passed Snell. Brogdon takes a dive on this play, but he’s hardly a push over. The Celtics have found success against switching defenses. They dropped 114 points on the Sixers (3rd in the league in defense, regular season 102.0 DefRtg), 108 on the Spurs (4th, 102.4 DefRtg), 110 on the Raptors (5th, 103.4 Def Rtg), and 120 on the Rockets (6th, 103.8 DefRtg). Those games featured a healthy Kyrie Irving, but even without him, the Celtics read-and-react offense should be able to adjust. Boston did capitalize in some areas. With Milwaukee going small and switchy, Stevens opted for bigger front courts, including pairing Aron Baynes and Greg Monroe for nearly eleven minutes to be aggressive on the glass. They combined for 10 offensive boards (team total of 17) to the tune of 18 second chance points. The Celtics went to the line 28 times; in their offensive explosion in Game 2, they only had eighteen free throws. After Game 3’s success, the Bucks will most likely try and muck it up again on Sunday, but the Celtics will be ready. Don’t be surprised if Marcus Morris starts for Aron Baynes. Greg Monroe could play more minutes to bully his former team’s smaller lineups. One thing is for certain: after their first taste of the playoffs in enemy territory, the Celtics will be ready. Here’s Jaylen on the team’s Game 4 mind set: www.celticsblog.com/2018/4/21/17265154/the-game-3-anomaly-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-thon-maker-three-pointers
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 11:40:08 GMT -5
Boston Celtics eye adjustments vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4Boston Celtics' Terry Rozier: Celtics have to respond, "and we will"By Tom Westerholm
MILWAUKEE -- Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens is going to have to dig deep into his bag of coaching tricks on Sunday afternoon, carefully plucking out the exact piece of advice to turn the Celtics' road trip for Games 3 and 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks around. Imparted from Stevens himself, here's the secret he plans to pull out. "I think the biggest focus for us is playing well," Stevens told reporters on a conference call Saturday. "At the end of the day, we're playing a really talented team. And they put us in a bind in a lot of ways." Stevens continued: "Our focus is not on all the other talking points. Our guys know the importance of the game. I think that's pretty tell-tale. I think at the end of the day, what are you focused on? You just focused on how you play well." To Stevens' point, there's only so much you can realistically do when the opposing team shoots as well as Milwaukee. After three games, Khris Middleton is shooting a seemingly unsustainable 63.3 percent from behind the arc (and 62 percent overall -- his two-point percentage is somehow dragging him down). Thon Maker came in and looked like 2013-era Serge Ibaka. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was yet to hit a deep jumper in the series prior to Friday, buried three triples. Stevens said the Celtics' plan hasn't been to just let Antetokounmpo shoot. "It's not like something where we're going into the game saying, 'Let him shoot it,'" Stevens said. "That would not be the case." Rather, Boston wants to take away his strength: Driving to the basket. That requires most of their defensive energy, which can leave Antetokounmpo open behind the arc. The Celtics would rather have Antetokounmpo shooting triples than crashing to the basket and trying to earn three-point plays. There's not much of a distinction there. On the one hand, the Celtics are letting Antetokounmpo shoot, and on the other they are trying to take away his best attribute by prioritizing the drive instead of the shot (which, of course, is tantamount to letting him shoot). But Stevens felt the distinction was important enough to note. "At the end of the day, with great players, you do have to focus on what they do best first and foremost," Stevens said. "Because he's great, he can reach into that bag of tricks and have a 3-for-4 game from three. That's just what great players are able to do. But you just have to challenge that a little bit harder." Elsewhere, adjustments might be hard to come by. The Celtics can mess with their rotations and try different looks defensively. But as Stevens noted, the biggest issues were on the offensive end -- the Celtics just couldn't score. "In Game 3, I didn't think we did anything particularly well," Stevens said. "But I thought that was largely due to the fact that our offense put us in some tough spots." After the game, Morris told reporters the Celtics hadn't been ready for Milwaukee's new switching strategy. By the time the Celtics adjusted, they already seemed to be back on their heels. "They did a great job of playing with great intensity," Stevens said. "When they did switch they held their ground. They kicked smalls out of the paint by rotating, they were extremely aggressive and I just thought that they set a tone for how the game was going to be played, and we did not play as well as we wanted to." But for the Celtics, any talk of adjustments is secondary. Boston can rotate defensively, substitute differently and run different offensive sets, but to take a 3-1 lead back to the TD Garden, the Celtics just need to be better. "Our focus is not on all the other talking points," Stevens said. "Our guys know the importance of the game. I think that's pretty tell-tale. I think at the end of the day, what are you focused on? You're just focused on how you play well." www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/04/boston_celtics_eye_adjustments.html#incart_river_index
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Post by kyceltic on Apr 22, 2018 11:40:41 GMT -5
I'm starting to get nervous!!
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:09:15 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:14:21 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:17:14 GMT -5
Quick start up 8-4
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:19:13 GMT -5
Tatum's jumper leads to a Bucks TO ... 10-4
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:22:03 GMT -5
Intense atmosphere. Dirty move by bledsoe going under JB like that.
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:24:28 GMT -5
Morris with a contested jumper ...
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:24:47 GMT -5
Zeller being Zeller
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:25:45 GMT -5
Great defenseive series there by C's ...
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:27:09 GMT -5
Morris needs to pass the fn ball
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:27:47 GMT -5
We are starting to just force shots. Agh
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:27:48 GMT -5
Still missing some easy opportunities ... costly!
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:28:08 GMT -5
Bos getting fouled
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:28:50 GMT -5
No calls. We have to focus on being aggressive even if there are no calls. Tatum shouldn't have fouled that second time
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:29:28 GMT -5
Rozier needs to realize that he can easily take on the Aussie.
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:32:42 GMT -5
Al over Parker ... Bully, Bully!
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:33:24 GMT -5
Maker's the luckiest shooter ever!
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Post by Cabutan on Apr 22, 2018 12:33:51 GMT -5
Honestly. Annoying to watch maker make shots. He aint that good afterall. Guard the guy
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:34:08 GMT -5
Larkin gets abused by Parker
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2018 12:34:53 GMT -5
Bucks have their confidence back ... 18-14 Bucks
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