3 keys to the Milwaukee Bucks defeating the Boston Celtics in round two
By Max Griffith
No. 3 The Milwaukee Bucks must attack the Boston Celtics’ defense relentlessly in round two
The Boston Celtics have emerged as the league’s top defensive team since the all-star break. They have two great individual performers in Marcus Smart and Robert Williams on the defensive end. Even Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have made excellent strides on defense this season. Taking a player like Williams or Smart out of the game with foul trouble would shake up Boston’s defense entirely and give the Milwaukee Bucks a significant boost.
They don’t have much speed and size to guard Giannis, but I am guessing that responsibility will fall on Robert Williams. If we can get him into fall trouble it would kill their gameplan against us on the defensive end, and Al Horford or Jayson Tatum would be next up to take on the Greek Freak, and Giannis has an insanely favorable matchup if he is going against one of those two players. We also need to attack Marcus Smart, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
With Middleton being out I am very curious to see who Smart will match up on. I think he will be used in a lot of different ways and could even be guarding a big man in certain stretches. Williams is clearly easier to get into foul trouble especially if he guards Giannis but taking Smart out of the game also sucks the versatility out of Boston’s reputable defense. Boston is the kind of defense that needs all of its parts to keep the motor going, and taking out one of these guys from the game, even for a little, would be huge.
Next. 5 crucial matchups in Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff series with Boston Celtics. dark
Game 1 tips off today at 12:00 p.m. CST on ABC.