Boston Celtics: Analyzing the C’s play against other top title contenders

Title Contender No. 1) Milwaukee Bucks

Season Series: Split 1-1

Core-Five Per Game Averages:

• Kemba Walker — 36.0 points, 4.5 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 50 FG%, 36 3FG%
• Jayson Tatum — 21.0 points, 2.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 43 FG%, 42 3FG%
• Jaylen Brown — DNP
• Gordon Hayward — 14.0 points, 4.5 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 37 FG%, 28 3FG%
• Marcus Smart — 21.5 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 42 FG%, 48 3FG%

Tabbed with a 53 percent chance of winning it all in 2020, of all the teams remaining in the Eastern Conference during the upcoming Disney bubble, should the Boston Celtics make it as far as the Conference Finals, they’ll most likely be going up against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Though besting a team consisting of the reigning, and should be 2020 MVP of course, is no easy task, the Celtics have already proven capable of doing so this year, as they managed to split the season series against the Bucks 1-1.

Typically speaking, it has been Jayson Tatum playing the role of “lead dog” when facing the top teams in the NBA, as he has virtually with every other team as well all season long. However, against the Bucks, it has been Kemba Walker’s jersey that’s been called to step up, and step up he has.

In their first outing on October 30th, the All-NBA point guard put up 32 points (36 percent shooting from deep) to go along with six assists and six rebounds and, in turn, guided the way for a Boston victory to the tune of 116-105 — their third of what would turn into 10 straight victories.

Though not as lucky in their second outing on January 16th, — Celtics lost 128-123 — Walker continued his high level of play against the league’s best team, as he exploded for 40 points, 11 boards, and three assists on a whopping 60 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from deep.

As seen from the statistics provided above, Boston was without their third option Jaylen Brown which, in turn, saw Marcus Smart thrust into a bigger role. Like he seldom does, the wing didn’t disappoint.

Should both squads be fully intact — each outing, the Boston Celtics were without Brown and the potentially perfect defensive assignment for Giannis, Robert Williams while the Bucks had their core ready to roll — we at the Houdini see no reason why, should the two teams meet at some point in the postseason, it can’t be a competitive series that could realistically see either side come out on top.

If Walker keeps up this level of play, coupled with a fully healthy roster, I’d venture to say this Celtics squad has as good a chance as any to knock out the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference playoffs.