Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 128-123 win over Boston Celtics
By Adam McGee
More Celtics weirdness
In two games with the Celtics this season, the Bucks have put together two outstanding first half performances, and then followed them up with two absurdly tumultuous second halves.
On this occasion, the Bucks can at least walk away with a sense of relief that they didn’t throw a colossal lead against Boston once again, but it was another game that will require further reflection.
The way Thursday’s game played out doesn’t necessarily mean seeds of doubt have been sown, particularly given the Bucks’ postseason success against the Celtics last year. What it does mean, though, is that delivering more complete and consistent performances to shake off any doubt will be essential in their two remaining meetings with Boston in March and April.
The two-game sample is insufficient to fully parse out what the Bucks’ issue has been in these games so far, but a combination of sloppy, complacent, and lackadaisical play to start second halves, and effective Celtics’ adjustments have certainly been the headline issues to date.
In the end, the Bucks’ ability to get out to 20-point leads against the Celtics in the first place shouldn’t be overlooked, though. After all, for all of the drama and anxiety in this one, the Bucks finished with a wire-to-wire win.