The Celitcs struck back impressively in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the first half, Jaylen Brown and Co. decode the Bucks’ defense with a simple trick, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is invited to a deserted island on the other side. The findings.
1. How Boston deciphered the champion’s defense
After the opening defeat once morest the Bucks, the offense was the number one topic of conversation behind the closed Celtics doors, as Grant Williams admitted. Understandable following just ten hits from two and a field shot rate of 33.3 percent. In Game 2, Boston made it a point to trade the good shots from Game 1 – which mostly didn’t fall – for even better shots.
“In the first game we played rashly, sometimes forcing our throws. We took the first open three we saw, even if three people came flying,” Williams analyzed following the 109:86 revenge. “Today we knew that the more we moved the ball, the more opportunities we would get to be really open.”
Movement – this magic word referred not only to the ball, but also to the players. The Celtics offense had Wilson darting from one corner to the next in the dominant first half, but attacked the zone with several drives in almost every possession to pull the defense apart. After a drive, the kick-out pass followed, but instead of completing it immediately, the next drive plus kick-out pass came – just long enough for Boston not only to have a good, but the right throw.
“From good to great, we’ve been emphasizing that for a while,” said Jayson Tatum. “They’re a very good team, so the first move won’t necessarily work, maybe not even the second. You have to keep moving the ball and keep pulling towards the basket until you get the best shot possible. We did that today.”
In terms of numbers, it reads as follows: In the first half, the 23 successful field goals were preceded by 17 assists. Downtown’s final 20 hits set a postseason franchise record (on 43 attempts, 46.5 percent). When the ball movement stagnated following the break, offensive production also stagnated.
A prime example of the initially excellent ball movement was this possession just four minutes before the end of the first half. The attack took 16 seconds off the clock, following six passes and three drives towards the zone, Al Horford was finally empty in the restricted area. “It was exciting to be on the court during this possession,” said Williams, who was the only Celt not to touch the ball in this attack, even though he was free in the corner. “Everyone trusted each other, we had fun and that’s how you succeed as a team.”
2. Celtics vs. Bucks: The return of Jaylen B.
The significantly improved offense also led to a significantly improved litter distribution for the home side. In this case, better means more variable. After 50 three-pointers from just three middle-distance shots on Sunday, Boston now took 15 attempts from the midrange (although six hits), 23 shots in the zone and 43 from distance in Game 2. Much to the delight of coach Ime Udoka.
“We know that the middle distance is open,” said Udoka, alluding to the Bucks’ defensive concept of closing the zone if possible. “There’s no need to overdo the zone penetrations and drives right into the bigs, or just go for the three-pointer. We have two elite middle-distance shooters and we welcome those shots, especially when they’re in drop coverage. “
It helps, of course, that one of those elite midrange shooters rehabilitated his weak start to the series in impressive fashion in Game 2. On his first throw of the night, a pullup from the long twos, Jaylen Brown got lucky when the ball bounced over the ring before falling. But then the basket for the guard was twice as big as normal.
In Game 1, Brown racked up more turnovers (7) than successful field goals (4), and now he was looking for redemption. “He came into the arena focused. You might tell by his demeanor that he was ready for this game. I saw it in his eyes,” Williams said.
“We knew we had to come out and play like our whole season was at stake. We did that,” Brown explained of his approach, which apparently motivated him to perform at his best. The 25-year-old was so hot at times that he had more points on the scoreboard than the entire Bucks team for a long time in the first quarter.
17 points in the first section, almost perfect 25 points in the first half (9/10 FG, 5/5 threesomes) and 30 points at the end were on the plus side. “We had a great run once morest Brooklyn and then in the first game once morest Milwaukee we got punched in the face. It woke us up,” Brown said.
After the change of sides and also in the fourth quarter, Brown was not quite able to build on his spectacular first half. His injured thigh may have bothered him, and Brown was also taken off the court earlier than the other starters. The thigh might “tighten” towards the end of the games, Udoka explained this precautionary measure following 38 minutes for Brown. In turn, he emphasized that he was fine and would be ready for Game 3.
