Preview Boston Celtics (34-41) vs Milwaukee Bucks (37-38)

The Boston Celtics keep fighting to stay alive in the eastern conference playoff race and yet again the season may be on the line against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics are stuck in a deadlock with the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets sit a lowly half game ahead.

What makes this game all the more compelling is somehow the 6 seed is still in play for the Celtics, as a win tonight puts them just two games behind. The Celtics are riding high after a great win against the Pacers and should be carrying momentum into tonight’s affair.

The Celtics have been getting by with great guard play all season long but after last night’s performance the Celtics may want to attack teams with a different approach. As Dan Hyszczak points out in Celtics Front Court Key in Playoff Push, the front court has been seeing a lot more efficient results.

Tyler Zeller has been then Celtics’ best offensive option for most of the season and he can do it in any way he wants. Zeller went head to head with Roy Hibbert and dominated him on both sides. Zeller outscored Hibbert by 12 points and Hibbert missed 5 more shots than Zeller on the same amount of attempts.

Nov 7, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (right) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Tyler Zeller (left) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Zeller’s counter part will be Zach Paculia but he will certainly be seeing a lot of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the paint. While Hibbert is certainly a bigger force in the paint Antetokounmpo brings a lot more athleticism. The advantage for Zeller is that he’s capable of doing it inside the paint and outside.

Zeller shoots an incredible 55% and he maintains that with his jump shot as a crucial part of his game. Given how difficult the matchup may be the Celtics are going to need Zeller to maintain his level of play or they are going to have a difficult time winning the game.

If Zeller can’t get things done the Celtics will need Isaiah Thomas to pick up his play. Thomas was so phenomenal when he first got to the Celtics but he is yet to return to that form since his injury. Thomas has fallen into the habit of taking too many jump shots and avoiding the paint. In his last 5 games Thomas is shooting under 30% and he could see a significant increase if he starts driving to the paint more often.

Perhaps Thomas’ injury is still bothering him, in which case that will bring most of the pressure back onto the front court.All the pressure doesn’t fall on Zeller as there will be great contributions from the bench and Brandon Bass has always been the most reliable player on offense.

Apr 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) controls the ball while being defended by Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi (28) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics know whats on the line tonight and if they play with great ball movement and limit turnovers, as they did against the Pacers, they should be able to gain some ground in the playoff race.

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