3 keys for Milwaukee Bucks to steal Game 1 on road vs Boston Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks will need to find ways to get Giannis Antetokounmpo easy looks at the basket

Although the Celtics may not have one true “Giannis stopper” (no one really does) they have an incredible team defense that has a good amount of size as well as guys who play bigger than they are.

Al Horford used to be the “Giannis stopper” a couple of years ago before Antetokounmpo figured that matchup out in the series with Boston in 2019. Robert Williams profiles as someone who could give Antetokounmpo issues because of his strength, athleticism, and shot-blocking prowess but he’s been used more as a rover similar to Antetokounmpo.

Tatum and Brown aren’t big enough to guard Antetokounmpo one-on-one, but they’re still great defenders with good size that can help on an Antetokounmpo drive. The same goes for the recently-named Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart.

Even on the bench, guys like Grant Williams and Derrick White are very good defenders as well. So it all has the makings of a potentially tough series for Antetokounmpo to get good looks at the basket.

Despite all of this, Antetokounmpo averaged over 28 points on 58.6 percent true shooting in three games against Boston this season. But things always tighten up in the playoffs and when teams have a chance to focus on a specific player and scheme, it will make things harder at the very least for Antetokounmpo.

I’m not saying the Celtics will totally shut him down or take him out of the game, but using Antetokounmpo more as a screener for Holiday in empty side pick-and-rolls as they did with Middleton has been an easy way to get Antetokounmpo good looks consistently the last couple of seasons.

As I said, Antetokounmpo will get his points but you want to make life as easy as possible for him.

The Milwaukee Bucks tip-off their second-round series with the dreaded matinee today at noon CT.