Poll: Boston Celtics Vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The primary of the NBA’s 4 second-round matchups to be locked in can also be one of the crucial intriguing. The Celtics, the No. 2 seed within the East, will face the No. 3 Bucks, with the collection scheduled to tip off on Sunday night time.

The Celtics have been comfortably the NBA’s greatest crew throughout the closing two-and-a-half months of the 2021/22 common season. After placing up a .500 document of their first 50 video games, the C’s went 26-6 from January 29 onward — no different NBA crew misplaced fewer than 9 video games throughout that stretch.

Boston’s superior statistics backed up the crew’s dominant document. The membership led the league in each offensive score (120.7) and defensive score (105.9), leading to an eye-popping 14.8 total internet score. The subsequent-best groups throughout that stretch have been Memphis at +8.8 and Phoenix at +6.8.

The Celtics have carried that momentum into the postseason. With many consultants forecasting the No. 7 Nets to drag off the upset, Boston turned the one crew to finish a first-round sweep. It was Jayson Tatum – not Kevin Durant – who seemed like the very best participant within the collection, averaging 29.5 PPG and seven.3 APG with a .456/.419/.868 capturing line, in comparison with Durant’s 26.3 PPG and 6.3 APG on .386/.333/.8985 capturing.

Tatum will face one other critical problem in spherical two, when he and the Celtics go up in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending-champion Bucks. The Bucks misplaced Khris Middleton to a knee damage in Recreation 2 of their collection vs. Chicago, however by some means seemed even higher after that, making fast work of Chicago as Antetokounmpo led the best way with 28.6 PPG, 13.4 RPG, and 6.2 APG on 56.8% capturing.

Middleton isn’t anticipated to be again within the second spherical, which is a troublesome blow for the Bucks. However it is a deep, harmful crew even with out the All-Star ahead.

The Bucks have proven they’re able to profitable whereas shorthanded within the postseason, having gone 2-0 within the Japanese Convention Finals final yr with out Antetokounmpo earlier than dominating the Bulls in three video games with out Middleton this yr.

It’s Milwaukee, not Boston, that has posted the very best defensive score (94.4) and internet score (+13.8) of the postseason to date. However the Celtics can have dwelling courtroom benefit within the collection, which may very well be an element — the groups break up their 4 common season conferences, with every membership profitable two video games at dwelling.

Which crew will advance to the 2022 Japanese Convention Finals? We need to know what you assume. Vote in our ballot, then head to the remark part beneath to weigh in along with your ideas on Celtics/Bucks!

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