Boston Celtics – Milwaukee Bucks: Three Stars
Ouch.
Yeah – that one hurt, Boston Celtics fans. To watch the Cs lose a game they led by 22 points at one point . . . it’s one to learn from, that’s for sure. I guarantee Brad Stevens will break this game down for his team and let them know what they need to do better if they want to record their first win of the season Sunday against the Detroit Pistons.
It may have been a loss, but there were some players who stood out tonight for Boston. Let’s highlight the three stars of tonight’s game, shall we?
Third Star: Jeff Green
Nov 1, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Jeff Green (8) drives to the hoop against Milwaukee Bucks small forward Caron Butler (3) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Green didn’t have the same type of efficiency tonight as he did against Toronto (4-13 shooting) but he did come out flying, scoring 11 points in the first half to help the Celtics race to 16-point halftime lead. He also grabbed nine rebounds, got to the free throw line seven times, and was very vocal during timeouts in the fourth quarter, trying to inspire his teammates to finish out the game. He wasn’t exactly clutch at the end of the game, missing a couple of free throws that could have kept the Bucks at bay, but at least he showed he wanted the ball in his hands when it mattered. As Tommy Heinsohn pointed out, Green’s been the third option for all of his career so far. It will take for him to learn how to close out games.
Nov 1, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Brandon Bass (30) shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Second Star: Brandon Bass
Bass led the Cs in hustle and in scoring, netting 17 points with a pretty efficient 6-for-11 shooting. He also grabbed 9 boards, making him one of three Cs with 9+ on the evening, which helped give Boston a 52-41 edge in rebounds. He also swatted a shot and more importantly, the Celtics were +11 when he was on the floor. DON’T TAKE BRANDON BASS OFF OF THE FLOOR, BRAD STEVENS!
First Star: Vitor Faverani
Nov 1, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard O.J. Mayo (00) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Vitor Faverani (38) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
It doesn’t seem fair, calling Faverani a rookie, since he started playing professional basketball in Spain at the age of 17. He has a nice low post game, which he used to drop 12 on the Bucks. He also destroyed the backboards, hauling in 18 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards. Yeah yeah yeah – that’s all well and good, but the Boston faithful are going to absolutely love this man if he keeps blocking shots like he has been the last three times he has played. Faverani had six more blocks tonight, and should have had seven, except he was called for a foul on one play when he actually made a clean block. He has great timing and a knack for getting in the right spot to make the play . . . kind of like a certain someone who was honored by the city of Boston and the Celtics themselves today. Hmmm. Let’s hope we can keep making those lofty comparisons as the season goes on.
Agree? Disagree? Chime in below, or throw me your three stars @theamazing MrS!