You can call him Al: 10 Takeaways from Celtics-Bucks Game 4

1. Nobody ought to begin planning for the NBA Finals, however the Boston Celtics had a championship degree win in Sport 4 towards the Milwaukee Bucks.

Boston trailed by as many as 11 factors late within the third quarter. Milwaukee regarded like they’d all of the life and had been poised to take a commanding 3-1 collection lead.

Then, as they’ve for all of 2022, the Celtics dug deep and located their resilience as soon as once more.

Derrick White hit a 3 late within the third quarter that keyed a 10-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters and Boston was off and operating.

Within the last interval alone, the numbers are staggering. The Celtics shot 16-of-19, together with 11-of-13 within the paint towards the vaunted Bucks inside protection. In all, Boston scored 43 factors within the last body, and turned the ball over solely as soon as.

Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Good mixed for 37 factors on 15-of-17 capturing.

On the opposite aspect, Milwaukee regarded exhausted. They shot 11-of-23 within the fourth quarter, however the Bucks two stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Vacation, mixed for simply seven factors on 3-of-12 from the ground.

After practically pulling off a shocking upset in Sport 3, the Celtics completed the job in Sport 4. Now the collection shifts again to Boston with a really totally different tone than it might have had.

2. As we get into the person breakdowns, we’ve to start out with Al Horford. He was the story of Sport 4 and has been the story of the collection to date. Towards the Bucks, Horford has averaged 18.8 factors on 54.9% capturing, together with 50% from three, to associate with 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. And his protection towards Giannis Antetokounmpo has been excellent as nicely.

Horford obtained began early in Sport 4, as he knocked down a shot Ime Udoka stated postgame is “one we will at all times get” towards this Bucks protection:

Whether or not it’s brief pictures, or threes, Boston is aware of they’ll get Horford going towards Brook Lopez when Lopez is in drop protection:

This was the play of the sport and capped that 10-0 run over the third and fourth quarters:

It’s wonderful to see Horford present a lot emotion.

(Additionally, there’s no problem with giving Horford a technical foul for catching Giannis Antetokounmpo with a forearm after the dunk. However… hold it even and name it the identical manner when Antetokounmpo does the identical factor a number of occasions per sport. Appears truthful, no?)

Underrated after that explosive play was Horford instantly getting himself composed to maintain making large performs. This transition three was enormous. Additionally, Lopez can’t sustain with Horford when Horford runs the ground like this:

After one other three, which gave Boston the lead for good, Horford gave the Celtics somewhat distance with this jump-hook for the and-1:

A playoff career-high of 30 factors, on 11-of-14 capturing, to associate with eight rebounds and three assists is only a monster effort from Boston’s indispensable veteran.

3. It shouldn’t get misplaced in Al Horford’s enormous night time that Jayson Tatum lastly obtained it going. After scoring 9 factors on 3-of-8 capturing the primary half, Tatum exploded for 21 factors on 8-of-16 capturing, six rebounds and 5 assists within the second half. This included 12 factors within the fourth quarter.

Tatum made a few performs early. This loud end is what Boston has been searching for from him when he drives:

This shot can be there for Tatum quite a bit. He snakes the pick-and-pop with Horford and knocks down the midrange jumper towards the dropping Brook Lopez:

Tatum saved his finest stuff for late within the sport although. He scored 10 consecutive factors in a minute-and-a-half stretch late within the fourth quarter. This drive obtained it began:

On the subsequent journey, Tatum drew an and-1 with this robust end:

Ime Udoka stated that Boston focused George Hill as a result of they knew his tendencies. Tatum was relentless about it and mainly completed off the Bucks with this pullup triple over Hill:

Tatum’s 30 factors will get the headlines, however he additionally had 13 rebounds. His work on the boards allowed Boston to go small for many of the fourth quarter. If he can repeat that, the Celtics have discovered one thing actually workable towards this powerful Milwaukee protection.

4. No much less an authority than Al Horford stated Marcus Good’s work on this sport shouldn’t go missed, so we gained’t make that mistake right here.

Good was dominant defensively. In 44 possessions whereas guarding both Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jrue Vacation, Good held the Bucks stars to 6 factors on 2-of-7 capturing. That’s the DPOY doing work.

Good was additionally fairly good on offense. He dropped eight assists, together with this beautiful discover to Derrick White, when White slipped setting a display screen for Jayson Tatum:

This block on Brook Lopez is well-time assist from the DPOY:

And late within the sport, Good went to work within the submit. He performed bully ball to place the Bucks away on two late possessions. First, Good went up and over Vacation for this end:

Two performs later, Good made straightforward work of this end over Grayson Allen:

18 factors, eight assists and terrific protection from The Liked and Trusted One.

5. This would be the solely adverse takeaway on a extremely constructive night time. Boston has to chill out with the turnovers. Particularly the unhealthy, live-ball ones. Milwaukee is having a extremely onerous time scoring within the halfcourt. However the Bucks are feasting in transition, principally off turnovers.

This can be a actually unhealthy cross from Grant Williams. And it was adopted up by some horrible transition protection from the Celtics too:

Late within the first half, Good gifted the Bucks two factors by throwing a lazy cross from manner too distant from his meant goal:

Milwaukee had 13 fastbreak factors, however scored nicely over 20 in transition. They usually picked up 17 factors off turnovers too. If Boston can hold the turnovers down, they usually get again on protection, the Bucks may have a tough time cracking 100 factors.

6. Again to the great things, and that features Derrick White, who performed excellent basketball within the two video games in Milwaukee. In Sport 4, White completed with 11 factors, seven rebounds and held the gamers he guarded to no made subject objectives.

This three, which got here late within the third quarter, triggered Boston’s 10-0 run to bridge the third and fourth quarters. It’s additionally a superb instance of the Celtics pushing the ball and attacking earlier than the Bucks can set their protection:

White additionally has a knack for when to leak out on offense. Nice hit-ahead cross from Payton Pritchard right here too:

7. Jaylen Brown put collectively a strong sport, however sadly spent loads of the sport battling foul hassle. If Boston goes to unlock that smaller lineup extra typically, Brown will have to be on the ground. The excellent news? He was in a position to end the sport with out fouling out and made some large performs within the fourth quarter to assist the Celtics to the win.

8. We’ve talked about it just a few occasions right here, however Boston is so a lot better off after they push tempo. On this play, Payton Pritchard will get it up the ground rapidly and instantly transitions right into a pick-and-pop to search out Al Horford for the three:

Generally that push could be a sensible runout. Grant Williams solely provides a partial contest right here, as a result of Boston desires Giannis Antetokounmpo to take this shot. However Williams well reads the Celtics have the boards coated and leaks out. Good cross from Horford to get the straightforward dunk for Williams too:

9. With Rob Williams sidelined with knee soreness, Ime Udoka went to Daniel Theis for backup large minutes. That…didn’t go nicely. Theis actually struggled on each ends of the ground. In 11 minutes, he took, and missed, 5 pictures, principally as a result of the Bucks fully disregarded him as a menace.

Whereas this hasn’t been Williams most interesting collection, the Celtics want him. Theis is usually strong, however Williams’ athleticism, each vertically and along with his quickness, could be a difference-maker.

Luckily, Udoka stated that Boston hopes to have Williams again within the lineup for Sport 5. He referred to as the knee soreness a “flare up” and stated it wasn’t surprising, given Williams is simply six weeks out from surgical procedure.

10. It’s a best-of-three collection now. And two of these three are in Boston. That residence cushion is good, and it was earned by enjoying out the common season, however the Celtics really want to get Sport 5.

Anticipate TD Backyard to be loud and out for blood. The Boston followers have a particular attachment to this specific staff they usually’re going to wish to give them a elevate. And with video games being performed each different day now, the Celtics can use that power from the house followers.

Sport 5 is Wednesday, Might 11 at 7:00 PM ET on TNT.