At 2-2, Game 5 is usually critical, as 82% of winning teams went on to win the series. Suffice to say that the winner of this match between Boston and Milwaukee would put himself in an ideal position. Especially if it was the defending champions, because they would have the possibility of closing the deal at home, during Game 6…
And that night, the Bucks had the very good idea of coming to win (110-107) on the Celtics’ floor, following a superb meeting and an incredible turnaround! All in the wake of Giannis Antetokounmpo (40 points, 11 rebounds), Jrue Holiday (24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists), Bobby Portis (14 points, 15 rebounds) and Pat Connaughton (13 points), all extremely decisive in game over !
An impressive success from the men of Mike Budenholzer, who were able to resist the pair Jayson Tatum (34 points) – Jaylen Brown (26 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists), despite a deficit of a good ten points during half of the fourth quarter. Leaving the players of Ime Udoka, now with their backs to the wall, to harbor immense regrets following their failed end to the match.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— The champion’s experience has spoken. Incredible ! What a return from the dead of the Bucks, still led by 14 points ten minutes from the end (93-79) and who might not find solutions in attack, in addition to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. Until Wes Matthews and especially Pat Connaughton planted a few award-winning baskets, Bobby Portis did a monster job under the panels and the Antetokounmpo-Holiday duo continued to press on the Celtics defense. The gap thus melted and Milwaukee was able to complete Boston in the “money time”…
— Crazy money time. The stars assumed their status in the last five minutes of this Game 5. On the one hand, Jayson Tatum made the powder speak at mid-distance. On the other, Giannis Antetokounmpo answered him in the paint and at 3-pts. As for Jrue Holiday, frustrating at times with his tendency to force his shots, his relentless activity ended up paying off on both sides of the pitch. In particular in defense, where he signed a counter then an XXL interception, each time on Marcus Smart, while Giannis also managed a precious interception on Smart. Then, the fate of the meeting was decided by the throws…
— The Holiday/Antetokounmpo duo stronger than the Brown/Tatum duo. Still without Khris Middleton, the other two members of the Bucks’ “Big Three” pulled out all the stops to regain home court advantage in this series. From experience, they took turns producing a high quality “money time” and validating this comeback crazy, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were not outdone throughout the match, in the opposing camp. But unlike the Milwaukee tandem, the Boston tandem does not have the experience of a title, and it is typically in these moments that we realize it.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Bobby Portis. If the 3-pt address of Pat Connaughton (3/5) allowed the Bucks to revive from 93-79, the work in the racket of Portis also did a lot of good for the defending champions. Author of a big double-double off the bench, and particularly present in the offensive rebound (7 takes!), the interior of Milwaukee especially allowed himself to register the basket of the winner, near the circle, following a ball scraped in second chance on a missed free throw by Giannis Antetokounmpo. A capital performance from “Bobby Buckets”, always perfect in his role as lieutenant.
✅ Le duo White/Theis. Off the bench, Derrick White (9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) and Daniel Theis (11 points, 5/5 on shots) brought good things to the Celtics, both offensively and defensively. Active and combative as possible, they thus offered good minutes in relay of their holders and it will be noted that their solid passage in the first half launched Boston in this meeting. Just unfortunate that they mightn’t continue on the same basis following the break, because Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would have needed them sometimes.
⛔ Grant Williams. Still tasked with replacing Robert Williams in the Celtics’ starting lineup, the franchise’s other Williams didn’t have the slightest impact on the game today, in his 31 minutes of playing time. admittedly, being sent on a defensive mission on Giannis Antetokounmpo, who nevertheless is starting to no longer really have trouble getting rid of his defense (unlike that of Al Horford), the 23-year-old interior has brought nothing in attack: 0 point, at 0/3 on shots and 0/2 at 3-pts. Quite problematic, when you know that the Bucks leave him a lot of space so that he can try his luck.
⛔ George Hill. An insignificant entry into play: 0 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 interceptions, 0 blocks, 2 faults and no shots attempted. This is how to sum up the performance of the day from the veteran Bucks point guard, who brought absolutely nothing in 13 minutes. Both in attack and in defence. Above all, it was when he was on the floor that the Celtics took the opportunity to build their lead of ten points in the first half, with for example Jaylen Brown who targeted him offensively. The kind of match best forgotten as soon as possible, so…
THE FOLLOWING
Game 6 in the night from Friday to Saturday (1:30 a.m.), near Milwaukee.
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