Boston Celtics: 5 keys to series vs. Bucks

5. Controlling the pace

The first thing the Boston Celtics will need to do in this series is to establish the pace. Boston will want to play its brand of basketball during this series and force Milwaukee to play at the Celtics’ pace.

In their first round series against the Pistons, the Bucks played at an average pace of 101.25 possessions per game. This mark was tied for the fifth-fastest pace in the playoffs, behind a four-way tie for first place of 104.38 possessions per game.

In contrast, the Celtics were near the bottom of the pack in terms of pace. Boston played at just 95.70 possessions per game, the 11th-lowest of the 16 playoff teams.

The reason Milwaukee plays at such a fast pace is simple: Giannis Antetokounmpo is unstoppable in transition. While Giannis is going to dominate regardless, keeping the game at a slower pace would benefit the Celtics in their attempts to stifle his impact.

Boston should look to make this series ugly. By turning this into a slugfest and grinding it out in the half-court, the Celtics will have a much better chance of winning this matchup.