2019 Playoffs: (1) Milwaukee vs. (4) Boston

With both teams coming off of first round byes, the Bucks and Celtics are poised for a great series in this rematch of last year's playoffs. Both squads look so different since that seven game series. The Bucks have a far better coach, a deeper bench and likely the MVP in Giannis, while the Celtics have Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back from injury.

Milwaukee had a much better regular season campaign, but there will surely be a lot of people picking the Celtics. Boston has more playoff experience and it's debatable which team boasts the more talented roster. Will the Bucks' unorthodox defense hold up as they get deeper into the playoffs? Are the Celtics even good? Is Brad Stevens the long lost twin brother of Pete Buttigieg? Time will tell. Personally I got the Bucks in 7. They won 60 games and they have an actual superstar, so I don't think they're a fake 1 seed like those cannon fodder teams LeBron spent the last few years beating.

Anyway, vote in my stupid poll.

Celtics in 6.

They surprise the Bucks and take game 1 on the road.

Semi Ojeleye is the Greek Freaks father.

Crap

The Kyrie leaving Boston option sparked joy for me but I eventually went with Bucks in 4 because why not

I want Boston to win this series just so they can convince themselves that they're better off with another year with Tatum and the youngins than trading them to NOLA for Davis so WE can get Davis. I feel like this'll go 6-7 games depending on how they play Giannis in the paint. Bucks in 6 probably but wouldn't be surprised if it's Celts in 6.

fun narrative of #1 seed vs experienced team that apparently has turned the proverbial switch on. Middleton feasted last year and dont think smart's coming back for this one

I'll say Bucks in 7, but I just want this one to go seven games regardless of who advances. Should be fun.

Celtics in 7. As much as I like that Bucks team, I want to see Gordon Hayward have a big series.

Bucks sweep. Let's go.

That Buddha joke is so bad that I'm picking the Bucks now.
Celtics going to defend Giannis 3 like they did with Ben Simmons last year.

Having your best player not be able to hit anything consistently outside of the paint is not good in the playoffs, especially when defense in general gets better because effort is at an all time high.

I've been saying since early in the season that the biggest threats to Boston were Philly and Toronto, mainly because they are more well rounded on both ends IMO, and Giannis inability to produce consistently outside the paint. Khris Middelton has trouble creating shots for himself, most of his shots come from a Giannis or Bledsoe drive and dish. Bledsoe is passive offensively whether it be the regular season or the Playoffs, and they really don't have ANY OTHER shot creators or playmakers on the roster. Lopez can create his in the post, but they choose to have him out at the three-point line. Defensively, the Bucks are not that scary, especially matched up with a team like the Celtics who have so much length and so many athletes.

I believe Giannis will become a better shooter over time, but until that happens, the Bucks will flounder in the playoffs. And with the team having so few playmakers/shot creators, this series could end pretty quick.

If I were MIL, I would attempt to generate offense a bit in the post using Lopez, and tell Eric Bledsoe that it's the damn playoffs, and to be aggressive offensively. He looks like a fullback but plays like a kicker, hes soft. The Celtics are just packing the paint against Giannis, and they are long enough/fast enough to get out to the shooters if he drives and kicks. Think about how many playmakers/shot creators the Celtics have, and how many the Bucks have? Huge difference.

Game 1 in the books. Buds turn for adjustments

I guess the bucks ate their Wheaties last nite

wow. bucks take the series lead with a convincing game 3 victory

Cool about Giannis and the crap he had to deal with growing up in Greece;

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/spor ... ket-newtab

Doesn't look like this one is going to seven.

Doesn't look like this one is going to seven.

That's what happens when you fall in love with threes and contested outside shots, rarely attack the paint/post, play selfish basketball, and can't touch the opposing teams best player.

or have paul pierce jinxing you

Wow. Bucks build their lead with giannis and middle on the bench with foul trouble

Not sure how much more open the Celtics need to be to make a 3pter.

Still the Bucks defense has been solid, especially on Irving.

Adding insult to injury Cwebb drops the question of this being Irving's last game in Boston

This is why best player of the series matters. Raptors and Bucks are the proof so was LBJ reigning east for decade prior to this season. Team full of all stars will always have it tough against a team with one significant superstar.

Irving is a funny one. People vastly overrated him for winning a championship with LeBurnn. He was never a winner until LBJ joined him. And the Celtics were already a winner even before they got him. Remember what they achieved with Isaiah Thomas? Current drama was foreseeable. He was a star, not a superstar despite people believing it so.

Back when Kawhi trade happened, I was dumbfounded when one of my colleague thought losing DeRozan was a bad idea and Kawhi wouldn't really improve the team. It was actually a lot of people thinking that way because of how many points DeRozen scores and how Kawhi is not really a mass scorer nor stat stuffer unlike Melo and Westbrook(lol). Not many believed me when I told them Kawhi's a top 3 at the time and he would definitely improve the Raps. Welp, eye testers still would argue DeRozen's 360 lay up and Westy's big heart wins the games and not Kawhi's efficiently boring skillset. Noice.

seems like a slight over reaction of some after game 1. there were some questions marks for the bucks heading into the series but its the celts who are fugazi.

really hope the celts can get back into this series. they've been outplayed big time since game 1.

your colleague's a dope, novu. seemed like the issue was/is remains of him being a 1yr rental/ the raptors not showing loyalty to derozan.

anywho's... back to this series. Giannis has took it over. George hill having some kind of reconnaissance too.

Didn't Kyrie lead the Cavs to two #1 picks in the draft before LeBron got there?

Didn't Kyrie lead the Cavs to two #1 picks in the draft before LeBron got there?

He was 19. 20, 21 before 14-15, and made the all star team twice. "Before LeBron got there",like the roster didn't have any other changes like adding another all star in 26 and 13 Kevin Love, making the team go from 1 all star to 3.

They had three all stars and a better supporting cast the first year and years following with LeBron and Love. Just like stating the Heat were crap without LeBron, followed by giving him all the credit for an improved record, even though they added an additional multi-all star in Chris Bosh, and a better supporting cast, going from 1 all star to 3.

This is the truth, shit team is out. Its over.

Gianni a real deal already? I think next round against Kawhi will tell a lot about it.

Bucks make their first Conference Finals since 2001. Funnily enough, that was the year they had the epic series with Allen Iverson and the 76ers, who defeated the Raptors in the second round to meet them in the Conference Finals. While the 76ers aren't out yet, it certainly looks like it'll be the opposite this time around. Bucks/Raptors could be another great one, though.

Disappointing end to a disappointing season for the Celtics.