Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing bench matchup with the Boston Celtics
With their first round series set to tip off Sunday afternoon, we look at how the second units for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics compare and contrast.
As we enter the first round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, the similar hurdles and differences in production between the two clubs’ bench units are striking.
Having been one of their sore spots this year, the story of the season regarding the Bucks’ bench was having to navigate through a number of injuries, numerous lineup changes and a revolving door of players that came and went at the end of their roster.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
Ultimately, however, the team’s poor construction deep within their roster has come to haunt the Bucks all throughout the year, considering they ranked as the fourth-worst second unit in terms of scoring this season.
On the flip side, the targets the Celtics identified and honed in on in a summer full of roster turnover and tough financial obstacles have paid off, whether it’s picking up Daniel Theis, Shane Larkin, acquiring Marcus Morris in exchange for Avery Bradley, etc.
But the Celtics’ grand plans for this season went out the window after big free agent addition Gordon Hayward went down five minutes into the opening night of the season.
Since then, the Celtics have had to deal with injuries to Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Theis, they picked up former Bucks big man Greg Monroe following his buyout with the Phoenix Suns and have recently added fringe NBA players like Jonathan Gibson near the end of the year, the latter not being playoff eligible.
All of those circumstances and more have worn the Celtics’ depth thin as they have had to adjust their rotations and their starting lineups to make up for the various injuries that have affected their roster this season. With vital role players now filling in for their stopgap lineups, the Celtics are lacking a certain flash from within their second unit.
So without further ado, let’s delve deeper into the battle of the benches between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics.