Why the Bucks winning is good for Boston Celtics
The Milwaukee Bucks were responsible for the end of the 2018-19 Boston Celtics. It was a gentleman’s sweep that never seemed all that close besides game one. Why is it good that they continue to win?
While some subscribe to the notion that it’s always best to lose to the team that ends up winning it all, it’s tough not to have some hard feelings after a team manhandles you and makes you rethink your entire team structure.
Thats where Celtics fans are after the Bucks took down Boston in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. Cracks in the foundation became mile-wide craters for the Celtics. They likely realized the team as currently constructed will never topple the Eastern Conference’s new elites in Milwaukee and Toronto.
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What we know is that Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going anywhere. He can leave in a few summers, but why would he when his team is dominant? Milwaukee seems likely to retain soon-to-be free agent Khris Middleton and they should certainly do whatever they can to retain Eastern Conference Finals hero Brook Lopez, who dropped 29-11-4 in game one.
Toronto may be a different story, though. With an aging core, the Raptors appear to know that this year has be the year to win a title (or at least the east). That’s why they went out and traded for Kawhi Leonard before the year started and why they added Marc Gasol at the trade deadline.
Masai Ujiri may see the writing on the wall when it comes to this core. The elephant in the room for Toronto is Leonard’s free agency, and we don’t know if he’s committed to staying.
Winning cures all, and if Leonard can bring a title to “the six” he’d be an instant Toronto legend. That’d make it nearly impossible for him to consider leaving town.
But defeat at the hands of Milwaukee? Leonard may be California dreaming, especially if it’s a definitive beatdown.
If Leonard were to bolt for, say, the LA Clippers, the Celtics would no longer have to worry about having a top five player in the Atlantic division, unless Kevin Durant decides to try and do the impossible and win a title with one of the New York City franchises. Even then, dealing with one top five player four times a year is better than dealing with two.
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The Atlantic division is getting stronger, with four of the five teams making the playoffs. But Leonard’s departure would likely mean a larger-scale teardown of the Raptors.
The Bucks winning this series can make life easier for Boston. If the enemy of your enemy is your friend, then Celtics fans should chum it up with Milwaukee…even if that second round series does still sting.