Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Oct. 18 at Boston Celtics

By Ti Windisch | Oct 18, 2017

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 29, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 29: (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Major key for Boston: Clog the paint

“Try to stop Giannis” was my first thought here, but that’s not exactly a descriptive or possible major key. Clog the paint works better because it’s both descriptive and possible, which are usually things most goals should be.

Clogging the paint is also related to stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo, or at least it was. The Greek Freak shot a respectable 33.3 percent from deep in the preseason, although the size of that sample is obviously tiny.

Even if he is suddenly a shooter, Giannis’ forte is still scoring around the basket. Stopping him from doing so completely is just about impossible at this point, but the Celtics can make Milwaukee’s path to victory more difficult by making the Bucks earn their points down low.

Boston is starting Al Horford at center and going small with Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum plus another wing around him, but Aron Baynes could be an effective stopper off of the bench. His minutes — and the ones that see Boston’s plethora of wings and guards inching closer to the paint on defense — could end up deciding the victor on Wednesday.

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