3 keys for the Milwaukee Bucks to secure pivotal Game 5 win in Boston
Three Keys for the Milwaukee Bucks to Win Game 5: Make Boston adjust to your size, not the other way around
The main person of interest for this key is Bobby Portis, who played just 14 minutes in Game 4. Portis was one of the major contributors of the Finals run last season and in Game 4 was relegated to the bench and played in relief of Brook Lopez.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer kept Portis on the bench to adjust to Boston playing with a smaller lineup, the same reason that he put Grayson Allen back in the starting lineup. My last key would put Portis back into the starting lineup and Allen back to being one of the first off the bench, forcing Boston to adjust to Milwaukee’s size by controlling the paint and exploiting mismatches. Portis can use his size to get going early and Allen can feast on the second unit defense. Since the switch, both players have struggled, which I detailed in grading performances from game 4.
The Celtics have switched most screens the Bucks set and Giannis exploited mismatches several times in Game 4 but he can’t win alone without being absolutely gassed when the fourth quarter comes around. Using guys like Portis and Lopez to set screens for guys like Jrue Holiday and Allen who can handle the ball and either exploit having a big man on them to get to the rim or get their shot, or drop the ball down to Bobby or Brook who can score in the paint on smaller defenders.
The Milwaukee Bucks have shot just 33-for-113 on 3-point shots (29 percent) in this series, with the series tied and two consecutive fourth-quarter collapses, which the Bucks could have easily lost both, now is the time to get some higher percentage shots and using the advantage of having the size to use in the paint and then work inside out and get guys better looks behind the line and then trusting them to knock down those shots.
Next. 3 takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 4 letdown vs. Boston Celtics. dark
Although it wouldn’t be uncharted territory for the Milwaukee Bucks to go down 3-2 in a second-round series, it sure would be nice to not have it happen again!