Bucks’ Physical Play Makes Celtics Suddenly Look Average

BOSTON - - The Milwaukee Bucks punched first.

In Sunday's Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, the Bucks played with their standard degree of rawness on safeguard and it appeared to surprise Boston.

Subsequent to getting out ahead in the primary quarter, the Celtics couldn't observe their balance the remainder of the way as Milwaukee traveled to a 101-89 triumph.

"Give credit to Milwaukee," Boston forward Jaylen Brown said. "They worked really hard and had a decent arrangement however we missed a ton of open shots. They hit us in the mouth so we have to be prepared for the following one."

While the Celtics were 18-of-50 on their 3-pointers, the group shot only 10-of-31 (32.3%) in the paint. That is the most awful paint field objective rate by any group in a season finisher game since the 2017 Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference elimination rounds (27.3%), and the most obviously terrible by a Celtics group in the end of the season games in any game throughout recent years.

Brown, who came in with a waiting hamstring injury, shot 4-of-13 from the field while partner Jayson Tatum was 6-of-18. Consolidated, the 32.3% field objective rate was their most obviously terrible in a season finisher game as a pair.

Celtics mentor Ime Udoka said the Bucks' genuineness was something that removed Boston from its sets early, yet that it shouldn't have surprised the group.

"We need to clearly play with somewhat better balance and you know, not get hurried on occasion," Udoka said.

Brown said the end of the season games are not an opportunity to be astonished by something a rival group does, particularly thinking about Milwaukee's set of experiences.

"They're the reigning champions and we need to come join the fun ball," Brown said. "We must be all set regardless of anything else the injury is or whatever we're managing. You must have everyone associated and intellectually secured and be prepared to leave everything out on the floor."

Milwaukee played viable safeguard all through the game, holding Boston to 33.3% shooting by and large. It was just the seventh time this season - - postseason included - - that Boston didn't have something like one starter shoot more than half from the field, and it was just the second time it has occurred since the beginning of the 2022 schedule year.

Boston made only 10 2-point field objectives altogether, the second-least ever by a group in a season finisher game. Boston had never made less than 14 2-point shots in an ordinary season game or a season finisher game preceding Sunday.

"We want different entrances, various paint contacts and they worked really hard that far," Udoka said. "I figure Jaylen and Jayson didn't have their greatest night disagreeably, missing ones that they typically will make, so those things consolidated clearly increment those numbers."

While Brown was managing his hamstring injury, the Celtics likewise experienced an alarm toward the finish of the principal quarter when Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart momentarily needed to leave the game.

With 1:12 left in the principal half, Smart headed to the container against Bucks monitor Pat Connaughton. While Connaughton was required a foul, Bucks watch Jevon Carter connected with Smart's right shoulder.

After the whistle blew the pretend to be dead, Smart quickly snatched at his shoulder and let his arm hang down as he required a Celtics coach. At halftime, the Celtics said Smart would have the option to get back to play in spite of the injury being a stinger, yet they likewise referenced a right quad wound.

In the second from last quarter, Smart made efforts to his quad on consecutive belongings. He was limping now and again through parts of the second from last quarter and needed to get on the activity bicycle toward the finish of the third to remain warm for the final quarter.

Shrewd missed six games with a right quad wound before in the year, so playing through the torment is something he's done this season. He told correspondents on Jan. 23 he was kneed by Domantas Sabonis on Jan. 10 and said his quad puffed up in the wake of getting hit in the "amazing spot."

"I think the quad irritated him more than the shoulder," Udoka said. "Yet, you know he will play through a ton and it could influence him. ... He's getting chilled down currently, so he'll be OK."