I don't think it's any more complicated than the Bucks are the number 1 defensive team in the league and since game one they've absolutely smothered KI. Yeah, some of his decision making could have been better, but in the end the story is the Bucks' D.
The Celtics really aren’t even trying to get to the rim. They are settling for tough 2s. Some of it is indecisiveness by them and some is the Bucks defense.
It's been a problem for a while for the Celtics. Tatum and Hayward in particular haven't consistently finished strong at the rim like they're capable of. On the other end, Baynes could help.
Are Tatum and Hayward really capable of finishing at the rim consistently against Giannis and Lopez though? This is one area where the Bucks dominate which is a big part of why they were the #1 defensive team in the league this year.
I’m trying to figure out how you’re supposed to guard Giannis when he drives straight at you, initiates all kinds of contact, then slows down his steps where sometimes he almost comes to a stop before taking his last step. If you don’t allow the contact, he dunks. If you allow the contact, it’s a foul on you. The guy took 22 free throws last night.
I think one need only look at the assist totals from the first and second halves to understand that, #1 defense or not, the Celtics can create opportunities to score against the Bucks if they abandon hero-ball.
I thought a real turning point in the game was mid 2nd quarter. Subs had been playing pretty well and we had a double digit lead. Kyrie, Horford and Tatum then came back in and the ball movement seemed to stop. Lead down to 1 at the half, and the Bucks maintained that momentum for the next quarter and a half.
That’s the thing.....he doesn’t initiate the contact until after he gains an angle and the defender is out of position. This is what makes him so unguardable. There were a couple times when he didn’t gain an angle and we got stops.....the offensive charge when he ran straight over Ojeleye and the one-on-two break where he spun into Horford(?) and missed come to mind.
Giannis’ signature move - the Euro step while barreling directly into the face of his defender - is an offensive foul like 95% of the time.
I find it incredibly frustrating that he’s allowed to do this.
There is no defending it honestly. If Giannis is allowed to play like he did yesterday and he doesn’t get an offensive foul for initiating contact and using his shoulder/elbow to create space then it’s damn near impossible to stop him.
Jaylen obviously has some yuuuuge feet as Bledsoe’s hands came down two feet shy of Brown.
They're capable, sure. Are they willing?
Agreed...Brad did say in the PG presser that he will reconsider playing Baynes against Giannis again
I think we all need to move on from the Refs.
I hear that, but assuming you watched game 3 you have to acknowledge part (not all, for sure) of the defensive challenge was that they weren’t allowed to defend GA at all. The points are, for game 3 (not speaking to game 2) to a good degree a result of the officiating not an obviating factor
I hear ya, it just feels like the Refs aren't going to change for the Celtics benefit*. So maybe Brad can re-examine our Game 1 defense when they held the Bucks to 90pts. Play a little more size and build a bigger, stronger wall. Smaller guys are not capable of stopping Giannis at all, it seems like the Refs are fine with GA driving right into their chests, barrelling them over, and whistling the smaller guy for the foul. If the Celtics are going to get whistled for a foul, make sure Giannis feels it. Anything short of a flagrant foul is fine in my book. Giannis say hello to Aron.
At least not in any way that attracts the attention of the TV cameras. In other words, we have no idea whether he is "working the refs," like what he's saying to the one standing right in front of him during foul shots, etc.
He’s literally double hand checking on the first step. I could play in the NBA if allowed to double hand check every possession.
I'd be shocked if that option were not available for NBA teams. I know it exists in college hoops, at least in the Power 5 conferences.
I'm not sure it's as effective. If you watch that video of the Jaylen 5th foul, look at Bud working the ref real time. It's impossible to know if it mattered, but the call was made and the ref sure looked pretty sheepish after he blew the whistle.
There is also a huge (no pun intended) on the offensive end as it seems that it is harder to close out on a 6'10" 3P shooter than 6'3".
A big reason for this is Kyries shot chart. Too many 2s, not enough FTs and 3s. He’s one of the best pure shooters in the game. It confounds me he’s not averaging 10 3s per game.
I agree with this completely. There is no evidence for or against the idea that yelling at, gesticulating towards and lawyering referees works yet people persist in stating that Steven's demeanor with the officials is a definitive problem.
He isn't as good of a shooter as Curry, and he doesn't have the step back game of Harden.
MIL is doubling him - not trapping but doubling - off the PnR so there is no room for him to get a 3 off.
Kyrie really is unique in his own right. He can't get his shot off whenever he wants like Harden or Durant due to his size. He can't create contact off his angles like Giannis and Harden due to his relative size/athletic limitations. Yet, he is smart enough of a player that at any time can completely take over a game by recognizing gaps and taking advantage of even the slightest opportunity.
I don't know how much pull CBS has with TNT but maybe they can convince them on a Noon start to slow Giannis down or throw their role players out of whack. This may be our only shot at this point. Game 4 is our season and desperate teams are dangerous teams, maybe Smart returns.....it's our game of the year tomorrow night.
The season is on the line in this game though. If Smart is able to go they should get him out there even with an increased risk of aggravating the injury as he'll have all offseason to heal.
Hell, I'm assuming that working the refs does work. We just don't know that he doesn't do it.
Apologies - that was a long-winded way of saying I agree. The reality is that if you know anything about human interaction, yelling and screaming at someone to get them to do what you want or favor you isn't typically effective over time. Many of us have experienced co-workers or bosses who do this sort of thing and, at least speaking for myself, I don't think favorably of them nor do I think it did anything positive to my performance of my job over time.
