2022 East Second Round – Page 8

‘When a guy goes down, we’re going to have their back,’ says Grant WIlliams of stepping up in Marcus Smart’s absence vs. Bucks

The former Vol led Boston’s defensive response to Giannis Antetokounmpo in Marcus Smart’s absence in Game 2.

The Boston Celtics might not have looked like they missed the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year in their Game 2 blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks, but the man who stepped into his role as the team’s most adroit defender against Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his presence considerably, as did his teammates.

That adroit defender would be reserve forward Grant Williams, who had a masterful game off the bench helping pick up the slack created by the absence of Celtics point guard Marcus Smart, out with a bruised quad. Speaking with the media after the win, Williams explained how the team came together to help cover for the Flower Mound native while he was on the mend.

Instead of folding under the immense pressure created by Milwaukee’s defense, the team instead moved to “pick each other up” and “be there for each other.”

Bucks at Celtics: Boston beats Milwaukee 109-86, gets revenge for Game 1 loss despite Marcus Smart absence https://t.co/6QKg9lhvq6

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 4, 2022

“We know it’s a next man up mentality for us,” added the Tennessee product. “We’re a full team, so we know when a guy goes down, we’re going to have their back.”

“Losing Smart for the game, it’s one of those things you never want to happen because, especially, of the competitor, the leader that Smart is. We were happy to come out here and compete,” related Williams, noting that Smart’s presence on the bench also contributed to the team’s successful play.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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WATCH: Jaylen Brown’s nasty ankle-breaker drops Grayson Allen

Jaylen Brown broke Grayson Allen’s ankles early in Game 2. Re-watch the epic moment.

Jaylen Brown was positively cooking in Game 2 of the Boston Celtics’ second-round tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 25 points alone in the first half and was an efficient 11-18 from the field. After a forgettable Game 1, Brown was the tail that wagged the dog for the Celtics on Tuesday.

At 6’6″ and 220 lbs, Brown is built more like a traditional small forward or wing, especially with his 7’0″ wingspan. That said, he’s got himself a neat little bag of tricks when it comes to breaking down a defender. Just ask Grayson Allen. Late in the first quarter, Jaylen sized up the former Duke Blue Devil, with the action starting almost at the logo.

Six dribbles later Allen was on his rear and Brown pulled up for an easy two points. In case you missed it, check out Jaylen Brown’s ankle-snatching move here:

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Bucks at Celtics: Boston beats Milwaukee 109-86, gets revenge for Game 1 loss despite Marcus Smart absence

Some of the best plays of the game captured in images.

The Boston Celtics got their revenge against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the defending champs, shutting down superstar Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first half and lighting up Milwaukee’s perimeter defense from beyond the arc in the 109 – 86 win.

Perhaps more than anyone, the outstanding play of reserve forward Grant Williams (21 points, 5 rebounds) on both ends off of the bench secured the critical victory for the Celtics in the wire-to-wire win, with huge games from star forward Jaylen Brown (30 points, 5 boards, 6 assists), All-Star forward Jayson Tatum (29 points, 8 assists, 3 steals), and Al Horford (11 points, 11 boards, 4 steals) cementing the victory for Boston.

With the series tied at 1-1 and heading to Wisconsin for the next pair of games after a three-day break, let’s keep ourselves busy with some of the best plays of the game captured in images.

Celtics’ Grant Williams talks pressure tactics ahead of Game 2 vs. Milwaukee Bucks https://t.co/YWndEg0bGK

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 3, 2022

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

Celtics injury update: Veteran guard Marcus Smart OUT for Game 2 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Celtics will have their work cut out for them with the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year out for the game.

The Boston Celtics will be without the services of veteran point guard Marcus Smart for Game 2 of their series against the Milwaukee Bucks according to the team. The Flower Mound native is currently dealing with a right thigh contusion sustained late in the first half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Bucks on Sunday that evidently has not healed enough for Smart to take the court Tuesday night for the second installment of the series.

Without Smart, the Celtics will have to lean heavily on reserve guard Derrick White and to a lesser extent Payton Pritchard, the latter of whom is perhaps the team’s only weak link defensively due to his height at 6-foot-1. The contest against Milwaukee is a critical one for Boston given the difficulty of recovering from a 0-2 series deficit.

The one small bit of a silver lining for the Celtics is that they will have three days off before heading to Wisconsin for Game 3 of the series, which may be enough time for Smart to get back on the court.

#NEBHInjuryReport update:

Marcus Smart (right thigh contusion) – OUT

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 3, 2022

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Was the Boston Celtics Game 1 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks a wake-up call?

And if so, how should the Celtics respond?

Was the 101-89 Game 1 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first installment of their Eastern Conference semifinals series a wake-up call for the Boston Celtics? Or will they come out with less than the full force of their capabilities against the reigning NBA champions and risk falling into a 0-2 series deficit on Tuesday night?

The Bucks were able to push the Celtics around on their own home court with greater focus, intensity, and cohesion in the first game of their second-round playoff series, Boston at times looking out of sorts in ways they have rarely since the start of their second-half surge in January.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “A-List” podcast A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani A. Lunis recently broke down what needs to change for the Celtics if they do not want a repeat of the results from Game 1.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what the trio had to say!

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics’ Grant Williams talks pressure tactics ahead of Game 2 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Boston will need to play nearly perfectly to avoid a 0-2 deficit.

The Milwaukee Bucks put a lot more pressure on the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series with the reigning NBA champs than perhaps any team has this season, catching the Celtics off guard and helping to hand them a 101-89 loss to start their second-round matchup with the Bucks off on the wrong foot.

But for at least reserve forward Grant Williams, it has not just been a tale of Milwaukee’s intense pressure that Boston will need to consider more carefully on the court moving forward. Speaking with the press after shootaround on Tuesday morning ahead of Game 2, Williams explained how he saw the Bucks’ play affecting Boston.

“When, at every level of basketball, there’s pressure, there’s three things you can do,” began the Tennessee product.

‘The intensity of the game has gone up,’ says Boston Al Horford of Bucks series. ‘That’s something we have to adjust to’ https://t.co/GNCcuYOHor

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 3, 2022

Will the Boston Celtics get revenge in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks?

A 0-2 deficit will be very difficult for Boston to overcome.

Will the Boston Celtics be able to prevent the Milwaukee Bucks from stealing both Games 1 and 2 from the Celtics on their home court of TD Garden? Or will they have to make the trip to Wisconsin with a 0-2 deficit to try to dig their way out of? How Game 2 goes on Tuesday night could very well end up deciding the series for Boston — do they have the resolve to fight back against the defending NBA champs?

Such was the focus of a recent episode of the CLNS Media “Winning Plays” podcast, which saw host Brian Robb and guest Brendan Jackson dive into what went wrong in the Game 1 loss, what adjustments might be on the table for the Celtics to try out in Game 2, and what they might see from the Bucks as Boston’s opponent makes their own adjustments.

Check out the clip embedded below to hear what the pair have to say about Game 2 and the rest of the series moving forward.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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‘The intensity of the game has gone up,’ says Boston Al Horford of Bucks series. ‘That’s something we have to adjust to’

Game 2 is critical for the Celtics to win.

The Boston Celtics will get their chance to exact some revenge on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their East semis series this Tuesday night, and veteran big man Al Horford knows what his team needs to do to get it. Speaking after shootaround on game day, the Florida product emphasized that the Celtics “need to be executing their offense better,” and “making sure we’re getting open to offset their pressure.”

Noting that the Bucks were an elite defense as well, Horford stressed the importance of making the right plays. “Our guys will continue to figure that part out,” he said.

“The intensity of the game has gone up, and that usually happens as the playoffs go. It gets more intense, and that’s something that we have to adjust to.”

Celtics’ Derrick White confident heading into Game 2 vs. Bucks: ‘Everything can change in one game’ https://t.co/atNPpbOib1

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 3, 2022

With Game 2 set to kick off this evening at 7 pm ET, it won’t be long until we can see how well the Celtics adjust to Milwaukee’s pressure in a must-win contest against the defending NBA champions.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: 2022 NBA playoffs game 2 Eastern Conference semifinals (5/3)

Everything you need to know about Tuesday’s Game 2 matchup between Milwaukee and Boston.

The Boston Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden Tuesday night for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series in the 2022 NBA playoffs, and hope to get revenge for their 101-89 Game 1 loss to the defending NBA champs on this past Sunday afternoon. They will come into the game with a key starter questionable for the critical contest, but with a solid shot of said player getting on the floor.

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the action live on cable television or an online streaming service, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything you need to know about the game.

Let’s begin with who ought to be available to play.

And what does Boston need to change heading into Game 2? https://t.co/fojmGWw3Z3

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 2, 2022

Kendrick Perkins is calling the Bucks-Celtics series for Boston in 7 games after Milwaukee’s Game 1 win

Not everyone is panicking just yet.

The Milwaukee Bucks went from underdogs to favorites with their 101-89 Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics, with their physical brand of defense (and maybe the early tip and long layover) throwing the Celtics for a loop to enough of a degree to secure the win for the defending champs.

But not everyone is changing their minds about the series based off of one game, particularly given the fact that it is not uncommon for lower-ranked teams to steal the first game of the series. And one Celtics alumnus in particular who has since gone into broadcasting since his career as a player ended is among them.

That would of course be Boston big man and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is calling the series for the Celtics in seven games on a recent episode of “Get Up” on ESPN.

Check out the video embedded above to hear what Perk, Brian Windhorst, Tim Legler, and Mike Greenberg have to say about the status of the East semis series moving forward.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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