The full 2022-23 NBA season has not yet been announced, but some spoilers have begun leaking on Twitter. We got our first Milwaukee Bucks schedule leak today when Shams Charania of the Athletic tweeted out that the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are slated for a Christmas Day rematch of 2022’s Eastern Conference 2nd round matchup. This will be the second consecutive Christmas Day matchup between the Bucks and Celtics.
Last year’s second round matchup with the Boston Celtics went less than ideally for the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without their second best player in Khris Middleton for the entirety of the series. Not only that, but the struggles of George Hill during the Bucks and Celtics series were well documented.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was fantastic and gave everything he had to try to will the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals in the absence of Middleton. Giannis was the first player to have 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a single playoff series. Giannis averaged 33.9 points, 14.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists during the seven game playoff series with Boston.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics played four games last season, with each team winning two of the matchups. Boston won the first two, Milwaukee won the second two.
The Celtics and Bucks played last season on Christmas day, Milwaukee emerged victorious 117-113 on the back of a fourth quarter where the Bucks outscored the Celtics 27-19. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points, added 12 rebounds and five assists plus two blocks. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday added 17 points each. The Bucks also got 16 points from Bobby Portis off the bench. The Celtics got 25 points from their two stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the loss. Marcus Smart added 19 points for Boston.
What will be different for the 2022 Christmas Day matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics?
For starters, there will be a different starting center for the Milwaukee Bucks, last season the Bucks were forced to resort to starting Demarcus Cousins at center before giving the full time starting center job to Bobby Portis. Brook Lopez, assuming health, will be the starting center for the Bucks this go around. Other new pieces on the Bucks from 2021 Christmas game to 2022 are Jevon Carter, Joe Ingles (if recovered from his ACL tear) and newly drafted MarJon Beauchamp. The Bucks did also draft Hugo Besson in the 2022 draft but Besson is a draft and stash player and will play overseas this season.
The 2022 Celtics will feature several newcomers as well, including former Milwaukee Buck, Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon. In addition to Brogdon, the Celtics also didn’t have Derrick White last Christmas. Other newcomers for the Celtics include Danilo Gallinari, Noah Vonleh and JD Davidson.
Hopefully we will get the rest of the NBA schedule soon and can highlight more key games for our Milwaukee Bucks. Stay tuned with Behind the Buck Pass for more updates on the team’s schedule and analysis on the team leading up to and during the 2022-23 season.