Celtics Listed as +160 Underdogs in Series with Bucks After Game 2

• The Boston Celtics shot just 39.5% from the field in Game 2
• Kyrie Irving was just 4-of-18 from the field with just nine points in Game 2
• There were 58 combined free throws in Game 2 compared to 32 in Game 1

The Boston Celtics stunned the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. As a result, the series odds changed significantly in the Celtics’ favor. However, the Bucks responded in Game 2 and again looked like the top team in the East. Which team is the best bet on the series price going forward?

Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks Playoff Series Odds

*Odds taken 05/01/19

Defense Led Bucks in Game 2

A lot of people started to get worried about the Milwaukee Bucks after Game 1. Not only did they lose, it was their worst loss of the season by margin of defeat. However, they got their house back in order in Game 2, slamming the Celtics by a score of 123-102.

AL HORFORD & GIANNIS trade jams! #NBAPlayoffs

?: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/dW1GLzuViM

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2019

To start, the Bucks defense came to life. They held the Celtics to just 39.5% shooting from the field, which is a significant drop from the 54.0% they allowed in Game 1. A muzzle was put on Kyrie Irving as he went just 4-of-18 from the field. Terry Rozier went just 2-of-10, which meant the two Celtics point guars shot just 21.4% from the field.

Bucks Finally Find Their Threes

We know that the Bucks were one of the best – if not the best – three-and-D teams this season, which is why their Game 1 performance was so surprising. However, their defense woke up in Game 2 and so did their three-point shooting.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on Avengers: Endgame: “The movie was really nice. I was waiting for that movie for a year and a half now. I didn’t know it was three hours long. I had to use the restroom but I never left.” pic.twitter.com/gfAjxNJpva

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 1, 2019

The Bucks hit just 13-of-39 (33.3%) from beyond the arc in Game 1, but were at 20-of-47 (42.6%) in Game 2. It feels like they have some room for improvement too as they scored 123 points but shot just 43.8% from the field in Game 2.

The Free Throw Discrepancy

A lot of bettors were complaining on Twitter about how the game flow went in Game 2. The officiating was very different from Game 1, which makes it hard to handicap the series. Specifically, the teams shot just 32 free throws in Game 1 with the Celtics having just eight. The two teams combined for 58 free throws in Game 2 as the refs called everything.

.@kobebryant breaks down @Giannis_An34 waiting for the best moment to make a pass to his teammate for an open three-point shot. pic.twitter.com/Wko77BybE7

— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2019

That makes it tricky to figure out what the story will be for Game 3 and the rest of the series.

Was Game 1 an Aberration?

One of the reasons I still believe in the Bucks is because we’ve seen a number of Game 1 aberrations in the Eastern Conference Playoffs so far. The Brooklyn Nets stunned the Philadelphia 76ers and then ended up losing four straight. The Orlando Magic did the same in Toronto in Round 1 and then lost the series in five games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 29 points and Khris Middleton had 28 as the Bucks rolled past the Celtics 123-102 to even the series #NBAPlayoffs

?: @NBAonTNT
pic.twitter.com/f9tL0rco1p

— USA TODAY NBA (@usatodaynba) May 1, 2019

The reason I’m not betting this series right now is I want to see Game 3. If the Celtics can win Game 3, that will indicate to me that they have what it takes to win this series. If they fall in Game 3 – in any fashion whether it’s a close game or not – then that will indicate that Game 1 was merely an aberration. Game 3 will be a telling sign.