Bucks Still Favored to Win Series vs Celtics After Losing Game 1
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 9, 2020 at 11:09 am EDTPublished:
- The Milwaukee Bucks are still favored to eliminate the Boston Celtics from the NBA Playoffs
- The Celtics took a 112-90 decision over Milwaukee in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal
- The Bucks haven’t reached the Eastern Conference Conference Finals since 2000-01
Do the Boston Celtics have what it takes to make the Milwaukee Bucks stop here?
The Celtics ran away from the Bucks with a 112-90 win in Game 1.
Kyrie Irving recorded his 1st career playoff game with 25 points and 10 assists.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo was 2-10 when guarded by Al Horford and Aron Baynes. Giannis also shot just 4-15 in the paint. pic.twitter.com/wo7gQuQn1v
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 28, 2019
Sportsbooks still don’t think so. Boston’s solid 112-90 road verdict over the Bucks in Sunday’s opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinal did little to sway the minds of the oddsmakers.
Sportsbooks continue to list the Bucks as favorites to win the best-of-seven series.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics Playoff Series Odds
| Team | Odds to Win Series |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -129 |
| Boston Celtics | +109 |
Odds taken on 04/29/19.
Milwaukee hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference final since 2000-01, when the Bucks lost a seven-game set to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Celtics Bring It
Boston was certainly an impressive bunch in Game 1. The Celtics shot 54% from the field, while holding the Bucks to a 34.8% shooting performance. Limiting Milwaukee to 90 points is no easy task. The Bucks led the NBA this season, averaging 118.1 points per game.
"I think it's over."
– Paul Pierce following the Bucks’ 22-point loss to the Celtics in Game 1 pic.twitter.com/XzsRzjQnW6
— ESPN (@espn) April 28, 2019
Scoring 112 on Milwaukee is equally astonishing. Milwaukee was also the NBA’s best regular-season defensive team, limiting opponents to a defensive rating of 104.9. The Bucks also pulled down the most defensive rebounds (40.4) and allowed the fewest points in the paint (42.2) per game of any NBA team.
Freaking Out The Greek Freak
Boston’s dynamic duo of Al Horford and Aron Baynes did a number on Milwaukee MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, checking him at 22 points via 7-of-21 from the floor.
Al Horford met Giannis at the rim TWICE 😤 pic.twitter.com/uuR8X9BvTI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2019
The Greek Freak was a minus-24 for the game, tying his worst-ever performance in a playoff game. He shot 27% (4-for-15) in the paint, a season low.
Shooting a dismal 13-of-39 from three-point range, the Bucks made it easy for the Celtics to collapse around the hoop and deny Antetokounmpo lanes to drive to the basket. Brook Lopez, so deadly from outside the arc in the first round against Detroit, was 1-for-4 from three-point range. Eric Bledsoe finished with six points.
Celtics dominate in Game 1, 112-90
Horford: 20 PTS | 11 REB | 3 BLK
Giannis: 7-21 FG pic.twitter.com/6UpRS8sbYT— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 28, 2019
Milwaukee’s sweep of the Pistons was a team effort. Giannis averaged just 21.3 ppg through the first three games of that series, yet the Bucks won each game handily.
Bucks Won’t Stop Here
At the start of the series, the Bucks were -300 favorites to beat the Celtics. You could get +250 odds on Boston winning this series.
The Bucks lost Game 1 by 22 points to the Celtics.
Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1984, that's the 3rd-largest Game 1 loss by a No. 1 seed.
It's the largest since the Trail Blazers lost to the Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/rQEDwjkmqd
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 28, 2019
Milwaukee is the fifth team since 1984 to lose Game 1 of a best-of-seven series by more than 20 points. Of the previous four, just the 2017 San Antonio Spurs rallied to win the series. One of the three who lost were the 1985 Bucks.
Things I believe:
Game 1 of a series is often misleading.
The Celtics' game plan and execution vs. Giannis were ideal.
The Bucks will adjust.
The Celtics won't continue shooting this well from midrange.
The Bucks could really use Brogdon.
The Celtics have more individual talent.— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) April 28, 2019
Regardless, Milwaukee didn’t finish first overall in the East because the Bucks aren’t a talented bunch. Every great player, every championship squad, faces adversity at some point on their journey to the title. This is the first test of the Bucks’ mettle.
The Bucks’ offensive rating when Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the court in Round 1: 120.2.
Bucks’ offensive rating when Giannis shared court with Al Horford in Game 1: 63.3.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) April 28, 2019
The playoffs are about adjustments. Milwaukee lost back-to-back games once all season.
The Bucks won’t do that here, and they won’t lose this series.
Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-129)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
