Hardwood Houdini
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3 takeaways from Boston Celtics Game 6 win over the Milwaukee Bucks

By Michael Ivanoskos

The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are leading the charge -- how much pressure do they have to win? (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are leading the charge -- how much pressure do they have to win? (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 13: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics takes a moment prior to Game Six against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fiserv Forum on May 13, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 13: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics takes a moment prior to Game Six against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fiserv Forum on May 13, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Keeping the rebound battle neck and neck

The gap in rebounds in Game 5 was one of the key reasons the Celtics could not pull away with a victory. The Bobby Portis putback after a missed Giannis free throw was just one in a string of 13 more boards the Bucks got over Boston (49-36). Milwaukee had 17 offensive rebounds compared to the C’s mere five.

Very little chance to win games with a gap on the glass that large. In Game 6 we saw a more concerted to keep the battle on the boards airtight in closeness. The celts actually won the offensive rebound war eight to seven and hung tough on the glass with only three fewer boards than the Bucks (57-54).

Considering Milwaukee’s favorable advantage in length they should have continued to dominate on the glass, but rebounds are hard work and being strong fundamentally. The story of game five was the clutch putback game-winner off a missed free throw.

In the post-game interview for Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, he did not hold back on the reason his team lost the game.

"“Offensive rebounds. The story of the game. They had 17 for 20 second-chance points and a large majority of those came in the second half. They only had six in the first half so we were doing a good job as far as that. To give up 14, especially on those specific plays where they got kick-out 3s — some were long rebounds so they were a little bit tougher. But we gotta find bodies on those and then the free throw one stands out.”"

Al Horford led the charge on the glass with 10 rebounds and Tatum added nine while four other C’s had five boards apiece (Grant, White, Brown, and Smart).

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