3 takeaways from Game 1 of Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics

3 takeaways from Game 1 of Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics: 3. Role players will become a key determinant of this series

During Game 1 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, the role players proved to be large factors in the outcome of the game. The Bucks need their supporting cast to step up and produce in this series, especially offensively with Khris Middleton sidelined, and that’s exactly what they did across the initial contest.

Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, and Jevon Carter combined for 26 points, six three-point field goals, five steals, and had a plus/minus of plus-40 together off the bench. Carter was a team-high plus-25. Milwaukee had an eight-man rotation, and those three guys that came off the bench were efficient contributors on both sides of the ball.

Of course, Bobby Portis was a star in his role like he’s been all season. While earning a fourth consecutive start in place of Middleton, Portis dropped 15 points and 11 rebounds on 50.0 percent shooting.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday captured the spotlight and headlines, but the Bucks don’t win this game without the two-way impact from all of their substantial role players. It’s been a common trend for the Bucks to win more contests when they get strong production from the bench and that’s what they received in Game 1 against Boston.

For the Celtics, their role players didn’t play too poorly, and the struggles mostly stemmed from the poor outings from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, but they certainly could’ve been better offensively. You have to give a ton of credit to Milwaukee’s defense, but expect more from Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White as this series progresses.

Robert Williams was a monster for the Celtics defensively and it wouldn’t be surprising if Boston attempts to utilize him more offensively with his athleticism and springy bounce. Overall, the role players on the Celtics were bright spots in Game 1. Unfortunately for them, their stars and leaders were the opposite of bright spots.

We knew that the impact of the role players would be a main storyline to follow throughout this heavyweight matchup and it’ll continue to determine the outcomes of games. The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics each have their duo of stars, but they also have a set of difference-makers that can shift the momentum of a game and help seal victories or even a whole series.

The Milwaukee Bucks emphatically earned Game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead behind lockdown defense, superstar dominance, and efficient contributions from the role players. Now, let’s see how the Celtics adjust and respond.