The three point shooting was the difference. The Celtics were outscored 60-30 from behind the arc. It's not just that the Bucks were shooting 50% from 3 until the benches came in, it's that they were shooting 50% from 3 at super high volume. They kept making 3's at a high rate and thus kept taking a higher share of their shots from 3 and continued to make them. The Bucks shot 8 more 3's than the Celtics in G1 but due to the C's edge in efficiency they both made 13. In G2 they shot 19 more 3's and made 10 more.
The three point shooting had other effects as well. The Celtics started to panic when the Bucks went on that run and lost their focus. They started turning the ball over and taking bad shots. They lost their turn over and FG% edge in a flash and the game was lost. They probably were going to lose anyway with the shooting being what it was but they made it look a lot worse when they stopped executing their game plan.
The Celtics shouldn't over react because that performance by the Bucks and by Irving are unlikely to be repeated consistently. There are of course some adjustments to be made -- whoever is guarding Middleton needs to stay home and not leave him wide open. Tatum needs to figure something out as well. But generally speaking the take-away is to stay focused on making the right play with a sense of urgency. They need to be prepared to weather the mental ups and downs that come with the high volume three point shooting of the Bucks. They did it well Sunday, not so well tonight.
The three point shooting had other effects as well. The Celtics started to panic when the Bucks went on that run and lost their focus. They started turning the ball over and taking bad shots. They lost their turn over and FG% edge in a flash and the game was lost. They probably were going to lose anyway with the shooting being what it was but they made it look a lot worse when they stopped executing their game plan.
The Celtics shouldn't over react because that performance by the Bucks and by Irving are unlikely to be repeated consistently. There are of course some adjustments to be made -- whoever is guarding Middleton needs to stay home and not leave him wide open. Tatum needs to figure something out as well. But generally speaking the take-away is to stay focused on making the right play with a sense of urgency. They need to be prepared to weather the mental ups and downs that come with the high volume three point shooting of the Bucks. They did it well Sunday, not so well tonight.
Last edited: