Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from Game 3 win vs. Celtics
By Ananth Para
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
2. The more productive bench will win this series
With other title contenders swinging for the fences in midseason acquisitions (see Marc Gasol, Tobias Harris), the Milwaukee Bucks made some of the smartest, yet overlooked trades in the midst of a banner year.
Rather than blowing up a young, relatively inexpensive nucleus in order for short-term gain, the Bucks decided on clearing up cap space for the inevitable supermax contract for Antetekoumpo and the pending extensions for both Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton while adding some much-needed depth.
In the midst of a tight game against the uber-talented but young Celtics, the second-leading team in 3-point shots attempted and made throughout the regular season turned to its bench for a much-needed spark.
The combination of midseason pickups George Hill and Ersan Ilyasova and the underappreciated Pat Connaughton combined for 40 of the 42 bench points in comparison to the Celtics’ 16 (10 courtesy of Gordon Hayward).
Not only does this add another dimension to the Bucks offense but it also allows for defensive stalwart Giannis Antetekoumpo and their best perimeter defender Khris Middleton to take possessions off offensively in order to focus on the gargantuan task of minimalizing Kyrie Irving and his devastating pick and roll game.
If the Bucks can rely on their veteran-heavy bench for some much-needed firepower, the Bucks are more than well equipped to make this a shorter series than expected.