Bucks (0-1) at Celtics (1-0) Game 2 4/17/18

[MJohnnyboy]

Let's play moneyball!

The Bucks starting backcourt, Eric Bledsoe and Tony Snell, are being paid about $24 million combined. The two of them are averaging 12.5 points a game combined while shooting a combined 11-32 in total.

The Celtics starting backcourt, Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown, are being paid about $7 million combined. The two of them are averaging 48 points a game combined while shooting a combined 36-73 in total.

[BlastFromThePast]

The longer these playoffs go, the better this team will be. I think they take one of two in Milwaukee, get Game 5, then put their feet up to watch Miami and the Sixers beat the crap out of each other. Great win tonight.

Not only that, Smart will be back.  Once he works the rust off in that first series back (probably Philly), this team as presently constituted has a shot at the NBA finals.  The "Association" (and Vegas odds makers) are tired of GSW v. Cav's.

[mainevent]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

I would say he's up there definitely.

[Atzar]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure. 

[SHAQATTACK]

SWEET

W

[Beat LA]

So Middleton is hurting us.  He's shooting nearly 70% on the series and is 9-13 on threes.  Opinion:  we shouldn't overreact to this.

He was a 36% shooter from deep this year.  Yes, he's getting more open looks than I'd like.  But I feel like he's probably due for some regression regardless of how we're defending him.  Guard him a little closer if the scheme allows it, but aside from that, I feel like he'll probably cool off some on his own.

Absolutely love that guy.

[gouki88]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure.

Oladipo and Dunn are probably 1 and 2, but JB deserves a mention, agreed

[nickagneta]

RANDOM QUESTION

Does anyone else feel "scared/really nervous" when you see a Celtics playoff game on the road in a hostile environment? Idk but I don't feel like watching when they play a playoff game on the road since I'm too nervous lol. I know it's all about execution but still... I usually JUST use the forums when it's a playoff road game  (Probably will for Games 3 + 4 as well)

...you can watch a road game .....I'll protect you ....LOL..... 

In person? I wouldn't wanna get heckled by drunk opposing fans or obnoxious fans.

On TV? I love watching road games and winning road games. It's fun to watch their home get silenced when they get beat.

Lol I'm not in MIL so of course TV.

Yes winning road games are fun but to me feel even more nerve-wracking than home playoff games, especially when the other team goes on a run and their building goes beserk.

come on. i can't tell you how many nail biting hockey and football games i have not only watched but attended in my lifetime. suck it up buttercup. embrace it.

My 20 year old heart can't handle any more thrills/heart breaks LOL.

After the last few Super Bowls especially (unfortunately last one was a heart break though)... 

This is hilarious. Try 1975 Sox-Reds. Try 1978 Sox-Yanks. Try 1981 Cs-Sixers. Try 1986 Celtics -Lakers. Try 1986 Sox- Angels. Try 1986 Sox-Mets. Try 1986 Pats-Dolphins. Try 1987 Celtics-Pistons, Then try everything since 2001 in Boston sports.

Gotta Cowboy up youngster.

[Jiri Welsch]

How do we shut down Middleton? Or do we think he’ll naturally cool down?

[liam]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure.

Oladipo and Dunn are probably 1 and 2, but JB deserves a mention, agreed

What's Dunn up too? Fishing?

[Atzar]

How do we shut down Middleton? Or do we think he’ll naturally cool down?

He's not a 70% three-point shooter.  We do need to stick to him a little bit better, but he's also due for some misses on his own.

[Beat LA]

How do we shut down Middleton? Or do we think he’ll naturally cool down?

I'm not sure that we can. He's taller than Brown, and even if Tatum's on him, Middleton is such a great shooter that I'm not sure as to whether or not it would really make a difference, unfortunately, and that's before factoring in his intelligence and passing ability into the equation. Ugh.

[BlastFromThePast]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure.

People who follow basketball knew what Oladipo could do.  He's in the perfect offense built for him by the Pacers the way the C's made IT (not the other way around).

JB hasn't just improved dramatically over last year, he still looked lost at the beginning of this year.  I remember the 1st game against the Bulls in December and he literally "screwed" himself into the ground trying to perfect his spin move to the hoop.  It was so embarrassing, he looked like a 2nd rookie and not like a highly rated player like he was when he came out #3 overall.

Now, he's playing like he was projected (by Danny).  It took a while but it's paying dividends.  His upside is waaaay more than Butler.   

[gouki88]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure.

Oladipo and Dunn are probably 1 and 2, but JB deserves a mention, agreed

What's Dunn up too? Fishing?

After that nasty broken tooth he can fish all he likes.

His jump was pretty crazy though. 12 minute increase per game and he at least doubled all the key stats, including an increase of scoring by over threefold.

He didn't play many games, but I like what I saw

[nickagneta]

I'm honestly more impressed with Jaylen's improved ball handling than I am with his scoring.  He would terrify me last season when he put the ball on the floor, and on a fast break...I would close my eyes lol.  Kid has come a loooooooong way in just one season.

Most improved?

Oladipo exists.  But Jaylen deserves a mention for sure.

Oladipo and Dunn are probably 1 and 2, but JB deserves a mention, agreed

What's Dunn up too? Fishing?

After that nasty broken tooth he can fish all he likes.

His jump was pretty crazy though. 12 minute increase per game and he at least doubled all the key stats, including an increase of scoring by over threefold.

He didn't play many games, but I like what I saw

Getting that much better on a tanking team, posting a lot of meaningless numbers in a lot of lost games, and doing what Brown has done on a conference leading(for a lot of the year), 55 win team putting up his stats in meaningful minutes are two completely different things. Brown has improved way more than Dunn. After Oladipo, I have Brown as the most improved player in the league. My proof, he just dropped 50 points in 2 playoff games.