3 keys for Milwaukee Bucks Christmas matchup against Boston Celtics

Can the Milwaukee Bucks exploit the Boston Celtics’ lack of interior defense?

The Celtics, like many teams right now, are dealing with all sorts of issues with players out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols. They have seven players in the protocols at the moment, including a few big men, primarily Al Horford.

That leaves the Celtics relatively thin on the interior with breakout big man Robert Williams having to hold the fort by himself. Boston did sign Al-Farouq Aminu and Norvel Pelle, two players who can help fill the void but still, the Bucks should have little resistance at the rim when Williams is off the floor.

The aforementioned Cousins will play a big role in using his size against the Celtics’ smaller frontcourt when Williams sits, but it’s also advantageous for players such as Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton to drive to the basket and get cleaner looks than they’d normally get when Horford is playing and they can stagger the big man minutes.

This would also underline the importance of having Antetokounmpo back in the lineup as the Celtics don’t have anyone who can give him much trouble outside of Williams.

The Celtics’ lack of size mirrors the Bucks at the moment and they will have a similarly easy time scoring at the rim with Antetokounmpo and Portis (potentially) out of the lineup. If you’re a fan of good interior defense and rim protection, tonight will probably not be for you.

We’ve seen the Bucks struggle to contain shots at the rim against this Celtics team already in their first meeting (Dennis Schroder’s 38-point game says hello), but now the Bucks will have a chance to get their own easy looks at the rim.

The Bucks are 9-1 in their last 10 games at Fiserv Forum and a predictably loud crowd on Christmas Day should help give the Bucks a spark against a Celtics team that has had a few standout performances against them this season.