Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from Game 2 loss vs. Bucks

1. The Celtics need to figure out how to get free throws

In one of the many stats that feels like an anomaly through the first two games of this series, this feels like the strangest. The Celtics’ star point guard, who makes his living finishing at the rim, has not attempted a free throw.

Kyrie Irving has never averaged fewer than four free throw attempts per game in the postseason — until this year. In these playoffs, Irving is getting to the line just 2.8 times per game. The Celtics as a team are the second-worst at getting to the line in the playoffs among teams who are still playing, at 20.3 attempts per game.

Boston won’t have any home cooking to look forward to in TD Garden. Despite a perception that the Celtics get a ton of calls in their own building, fans are certainly aware that they were dead last in the NBA in free throw attempts at home.

Gordon Hayward in particular will need to find a way to the stripe. The Celtics are at their best when the former All-Star gets aggressive, as they were 5-0 in the regular season when he scored 20 or more points. He has said he feels like he is peaking at the right time, and that a huge barometer for his success is his ability to get to the line.

Hayward hasn’t showcased his ability to drive to the basket and get fouled in this series, or really in these playoffs. He’s played well, particularly on defense, and his mid-range attempts have been consistent, but he hasn’t attacked the rim as well as he would like.

If Irving can find a way to get whistles, and Hayward attacks the basket to create opportunities at the free throw line, look for the Celtics to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this series. If the offense continues to sputter and they settle for contested jump shots, Milwaukee very well may be the team looking to close out the series in five games.