Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 122-121 season opening loss to Boston Celtics

Takeaway No. 2 – Donte DiVincenzo looked fearless in the first half

After being promoted into the starting lineup to start the season, Donte DiVincenzo did not disappoint in the first half against the Boston Celtics. The shooting guard looked fantastic throughout the first two quarters and led the Bucks in scoring going into halftime with 13 points.

DiVincenzo’s scoring punch was substantial for the Bucks, and his electric 3-point shooting helped spark the offense. The guard shot 3-for-4 from behind the arc, with his lone miss coming in the form of a 55-foot heave at the second quarter buzzer. Shooting has been an area in need of improvement for DiVincenzo, and to see the guard shoot this effortlessly was something to applaud early on.

It was a different story for DiVincenzo in the second half, however. The guard spent a significant portion of the third quarter sidelined and failed to replicate that same impact he saw during the first 24 minutes. As the final buzzer sounded, he finished the game with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, having contributed very little in the latter half.

While it was a tale of two halves for DiVincenzo, this game was undoubtedly welcoming, especially after his comments regarding confidence at his media availability recently:

"“I got to be better, especially when we’re trying to make a run at a title. So I took that and had been working out with a chip on my shoulder just to get better. And then coming into this year, just mentally being able to handle ups and downs. It’s going to be an interesting season, so being able to stay level-headed, mentally focused, and just keep getting better everyday, that’s my main goal.”"

DiVincenzo’s strong shooting bodes very well for his confidence moving forward, and he surely made a strong impression despite the loss. Now, the guard will have to carry over the momentum moving forward and remain consistent on the offensive end.