Be honest: the Bucks taking it down to the wire with the Celtics without Giannis Antetokounmpo was unexpected, but not a total shock.
Milwaukee walked into TD Garden 3-1 without Antetokounmpo this season. Boston lost to two shorthanded teams, the Lakers and the Cavaliers, earlier this season. Even without Giannis, there were plenty of lessons to be gained from this game.
Here’s what the future could hold for Boston if they meet the Bucks in the postseason:
Celtics’ composure still wobbles late
Boston led most of the game – by 21 points in the fourth quarter - but let Milwaukee go on a 24-6 run late to shave the gap down to 3 points in crunch time.
Tatum’s first points in the second half came at the free throw line with just over two minutes left in the game, one possession after Jaylen Brown’s two. Those shots, plus a layup, cushioned what could have been a terrible ending for the Celtics.
Damian Lillard coined “Dame Time” for a reason, and the Celtics avoided getting burned when they played with fire. Somebody better hide the matches in May.
Chess match against Dame Time
Jaylen Brown takes pride in his defensive prowess, and he met a challenge in the slippery and smooth Lillard.
Lillard’s game was touch-and-go early before searching out switches away from Brown whenever possible, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers early in the second half and blazing past Kristaps Porzingis in the paint.
Brown didn’t hesitate to get physical with Lillard. At one point in the third quarter, he popped the ball right out of his hands for a Horford three on the other end.
“It’s fun, it’s like a game of chess,” Brown said after the game.
Lillard flashed his more Michael Meyers-like qualities late in the game, pointing up five easy points over Brown and another three over Horford before ultimately draining a vanity shot from downtown in the waning seconds.
“Credit to Dame, he still came out and had a good showing. We guarded and covered him pretty well, caused some turnovers,” Brown said.
Lillard finished the night with 32 points, well above his season average without Antetokounmpo on the floor. Jrue Holiday, who was sidelined for the game, will also provide another dimension defensively.
Patrick Beverly will antagonize
There’s something admirable about a player who can get under the skin of the TD Garden crowd during a meaningless game in which the Celtics led some 80% of the time. Patrick Beverly looked happy to play the villain role during the first half when he threw down a “too small” celebration to a few Celtics reserves. TD Garden was unamused but would secretly welcome such antics in the postseason.
Poke Pritchard with caution
Beverly’s celebration was as unwelcome to the undersized Payton Pritchard as the fans sitting up near the rafters.
Pritchard played with a head full of steam in the second quarter, putting up 13 points, including a 3-pointer in Khris Middleton’s face. But the high point of the Pritchard experience came on a contested rebound against Brook Lopez that ended with a foul on the Buck and a flex to the standing Boston crowd. It was one of five rebounds had in the first half.
Boston will play Milwaukee again on April 9.
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