The Boston Celtics are the betting favorites (-200) in their second-round Eastern Conference postseason matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, but that doesn’t guarantee anything except increased scrutiny should they lose.
Boston is being ticketed by many to stroll through to the NBA Finals after sweeping the Brooklyn Nets, and it’s fair to call the Cs one of the favorites in the entire Association after the defensive clamps they locked Kevin Durant in during Game 4 of their No. 2-No. 7 matchup.
Again, though, nothing is settled as far as Celtics fans are concerned. The first four games of the postseason have been won, but there are another 12 they must collect before they can hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.
If Boston Celtics HC Ime Udoka can’t figure out how to suppress not just Giannis Antetokounmpo, but also the role-playing shooters around him, then this year will be all hype and no happiness.
MassLive’s Brian Robb recently revealed a lineup change the Bucks plan on making, and let me tell you Celtics fans, if this reserve winds up being the Cs killer Khris Middleton can’t be due to an MCL sprain keeping him out of the second-round entirely, there will be more wildly angry Mass-holes than the city of Boston will know what to do with:
"…the Grayson Allen villain potential is this series has the chance to be gigantic, especially since he will be playing such a big role with Khris Middleton sidelined. I would anticipate that Allen has a chance to be inserted back into the starting five for the Bucks if they elect to downsize from the Bulls series (likely given the matchups). That would give Allen the potential assignment on one of Boston’s wings or Marcus Smart, setting the stage for fireworks if he reverts to some of his dirty tactics."
Boston Celtics fans are going to grow to hate Grayson Allen
Bruce Brown is a pest, but he’s a Boston native that is inherently likeable. Grayson Allen? The Duke recruit that became famous for tripping and injuring other players mid-game?
Yeah. Not so much.
This series will test Cs fans’ patience, and also determine how important Khris Middleton is to everything the Bucks do.