NBA Playoffs Celtics vs. Bucks Game 2 Insights: How Boston Deciphered the Champion

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 against the Bucks, the offense was the number one topic of conversation behind the closed Celtics doors, as Grant Williams admitted. Understandable after 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 after 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 after 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, after 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.”

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