Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing Tony Snell/Jaylen Brown matchup

Defense

Defensively, both Snell and Brown are regarded as generally positive defenders.

The Celtics have the best defense in the league, and Brown’s flexibility to play as a shooting guard or a small forward at times is an asset for his team.

Measuring at 6’7″ in terms of height and boasting a lengthy wingspan, Brown is perfectly capable of switching across multiple positions. While he may get bullied by stronger power forwards, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo in this series, he’s perfect for guarding the 2 or 3 spot, and has enough speed for short bursts matched up on opposing point guards.

Brown has proven particularly adept at forcing turnovers, as highlighted by him averaging a steal per game in the regular season, but it’s his switch-ability that makes him a particularly perfect fit for Brad Stevens’ scheme.

Snell has some defensive versatility of his own too, but it doesn’t stretch to the same extent as Brown. The Bucks wing can also play as a small forward, but with Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton both vying for minutes there, as well as his comparatively slight frame, he’s generally kept as a shooting guard.

From that position, Snell is asked to provide solid on-ball defense, while also remaining focused on the wider elements of Milwaukee’s shaky team defense. Snell has his own flaws defensively, but he can at least be relied upon to deliver complete focus every time he takes to the court, which helps him to avoid some of the uglier moments the Bucks defense occasionally throws up.