They are already here. And we are talking, of course, about the Celtics. If someone thought that the slight irregularity that they had displayed lately eliminated them from the fight for the ring, they can devote themselves to thinking about other things: the green team has conquered Milwaukee. Although the word conquer falls short in this case: they have overwhelmed, they have demolished, they have left in the foundations and they have destroyed the home of Giannis Antetokounmpo (that all these words are understood in their context) to send a warning to the entire NBA and make any tremble rival that will play the playoffs. To this team, to this project, to this staff, you have to win four of seven games to pass a round that takes you to the ring. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford… Robert Williams’ physical problems and the variable series of casualties they have had during the normal season were some of the doubts they raised, in addition to inexplicable defeats against theoretically weaker rivals (the Magic twice and in the Garden, for example). But after today they don’t seem to care too much.
The Celtics have scored 140 points against the Bucks, who received 112.8 per night until tonight. they have done it with 56% in field goals, 51.2% in triples, 80% in free throws (16 of 20), 55 rebounds (to 56, a good baggage against the best team in this category in the NBA), 28 assists (to 22) and only 8 turnovers (to 13). They have won each and every one of the quarters, they have gone over 40 points (41) in the second, they already had the game practically sentenced to rest (47-75), and the distance was even greater at the end of the third ( 74-114). They have not left, not for a moment, an option to a rival who had his entire staff, had no casualties and had his extraordinary star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. And in a reissue of the last semifinals of the Eastern Conference they have made it very clear that they are the main candidates to win the ring: or so it seems after such an exhibition.
The only excuse the Bucks can have is that they were playing back to back, in Indiana, with the travel that entails and in an effort to add against the Pacers (136-149) in which Jrue Holiday scored 51 points and Giannis achieved a spectacular triple-double (38+17+12). This time, both figures have been far removed from similar statistics: 24+7+2 by Giannis, who is opting for MVP, but who has not been the solution in his 25 minutes on court, has shot 11 of 27 from the field (0 of 5 in triples) and has finished with a -38 with him on the track. Jrue, even worse: 6+6+4, 2 of 8 shooting, hardly any impact in the game and unable to stop the rival attacks defensively in their individual duels. The Bucks have also had 13 goals from Khris Middleton, and 12+10 from Bobby Portis off the bench.. And that’s it: no one else has exceeded ten in a team that has shot 37.6% from the field and 32.6% from triples. Mike Budenlholzer’s men maintain first place in the Eastern Conference thanks to the great streak from which they came (two consecutive victories, five in the last six games) and the few games that remain ahead: they go 55-22, with two wins ahead of the Celtics (53-24)with five duels of normal season until April 9. But this makes you think. Without a doubt.
And the Celtics? Half of the points, 70 of 140, were scored by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: 40 the first, with 12 of 18 in field goals, 8 of 10 in triples (it’s tremendous) and 8 of 8 in free throws, in addition to 8 rebounds, 1 assist and no turnovers. The second went to 30, with 13 of 20, 3 of 5 and 1 of 2; 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and only 1 loss. They were the leaders of a team that also had 14 goals (4 of 6 in triples), 4 rebounds and 3 basket passes from Al Horford, 10+4+8 and the well-known intensity of Marcus Smart, 14+3+5 ( with 4 steals) by Malcolm Brogdon, and 7 points and 7 rebounds by Robert Williams from the bench, a +20 in just over 18 minutes for the center. A very serious game of Joe Mazzula’s (nobody remembers Ime Udoka anymore) and five games ahead before the good thing, what we like, what we are passionate about: the NBA playoffs. And the Celtics come to it with a goal that they have had in mind for almost a decade, when Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and company gave their last blows. You know, the top prize. What everyone, sooner or later, looks for in the NBA: the ring.
