Red Auerbach or Red Forman? Bucks hold serve at home
By John Giffin
The Boston Celtics have a lot of things to figure out after dropping two games in Milwaukee
You could almost hear the chant of dumb @$$ bellowing from the bowls of the Bradley Center as the ghost of Red Forman vaporized the ghost of Red Auerbach in Games 3 and 4 Friday and Sunday.
Well, Forman can crack a beer and kick his feet up for a couple days as the Milwaukee Bucks found new life through the resurrections of Jabari Parker, Eric Bledsoe and Thon Maker to tie the series 2-2.
The Boston Celtics looked more like Forman’s former employee Earl, not showing up until the second quarter in game 3 and not making the effort to get back into the game for good. Boston’s shooting arrived late Sunday as well but came alive in the second half during the 20-point comeback attempt.
Hitting shots was a welcome change in the almost 20-point comeback in Boston. The Celtics began Game 3 2-for-5 then missed 14 straight, many of which were sent back by Buck Thon Maker.
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Maker finished with five blocks and shot 3-of-4 from three in Game 3.
Not committing 13 turnovers in the first half helps, too.
As in Game 3, the first half of Game 4 was the Celtics missing jumpers, Milwaukee getting in transition and making big runs. In the second half Boston was able to scratch back in the game because of a concerted defensive effort, second chance opportunities and HITTING SHOTS.
If the series becomes more physical , Forman’s Bucks gain the advantage. Al Horford and Greg Monroe can’t carry the offensive load when Maker is dominating defensively and challenging every thing at the rim.
Horford needs to get some open looks or drives on the perimeter to force Maker away from the paint to open up the drive and pitch from the wings for Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown.
With Bledsoe and Parker finding their offense in game 3 and Bledsoe hitting some big shots down the stretch in Game 4, the Bucks become a lot harder to guard. Essentially Milwaukee has five players (Parker, Khris Middleton, Bledsoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Maker) that can score from anywhere on the floor in bunches and a bona fide star in Antetokounmpo that showed in Game 4 he has no problem getting to the rack in crunch time.
This series will boil down to the play of Tatum and Brown. Without their scoring the Celtics struggle to get to the basket and shots for Rozier are reduced. Maker will continue the dominate the paint and Milwaukee will get the ball to its athletes and shooters in the open floor.
Next: Boston Celtics blow great opportunity in Milwaukee
Not a good recipe for Boston.
So in the battle of green which Red will prevail? That answer seems less certain after Games 3 and 4.