Boston Celtics blow great opportunity in Milwaukee

The Celtics will head back to Boston knowing they missed out on a great opportunity in Milwaukee

The Boston Celtics went into Milwaukee feeling great, and were even able to accept a disastrous performance in game three. The Celtics have been great on the road, and knew that a game four victory would likely make this a quick series.

Now, this series looks like it is going seven games, and the Celtics do not appear to have any answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and, somehow, Thon Maker. In game four, the Celtics could not have started worse, and despite the fact that they only played for one half, they still had an opportunity to win.

The Celtics have been winning remarkable comebacks and hitting clutch shots all season long. In a way, they found their comfort zone because of the 20 point deficit, and Jaylen Brown put the team on his back and got them in a position to win.

The Celtics had all the momentum, and looked like they were going to crush the Bucks on their home court. Then a five point switch as Brown as swatted at in transition, resulting in a Malcolm Brogdon three completely changed things, and Marcus Morris could not hit a tough shot to tie it up.

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The Celtics went into this series knowing it was going to be difficult, and it was only after their commanding game two victory that some people expected it to be short. That being said, the Celtics still had an opportunity to make this series short in game four.

The Celtics battled in a special way in that second half, but now they have a better understanding of what kind of standard needs to be held if they are going to get a victory, especially on the road.

The Celtics blew a chance to give Marcus Smart some extra rest going into the second round, and now they have to do it the tough way, either winning in seven, or getting that first road win in an elimination game six.

The good news is that the Celtics can be comfortable. No one expected this series to be easy, and they went through two series last year that started 2-0 and would up being 2-2. This is a Celtics team that will have a lot to learn with every game, and these kind of results are always going to be a part of growing.

No team likes to blow that 2-0 lead, but the Celtics can now use that to put themselves in a better position long term. Things have never been easy for this team this season, and they have always been at their best after adversity.

The Celtics have bounced back from everything and then some this season, and this is far from the worst position they have found themselves in. The Bucks stole all the momentum and have stars that are playing at the top of their game, but the Celtics know they have to be able to respond with something better..

Fortunately, The Celtics are calm, confident and prepared, and Brad Stevens will have these guys come home a better team then they were they they went up 2-0 in this series. The Celtics do not want to take the hard way, but it feels inevitable with this team, and you would be foolish to expect anything to get easier from here on out.

Next: Jaylen Brown learning how difficult it is to win

The Celtics have a better understanding of how good they need to be for an entire game to secure a proper victory against the Bucks, but it is a completely different story playing at that level with the series reduced down to a best of three.

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