Between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, things are getting a tad chippy.

(For more on the Celtics, check out TrueHoop Network Boston Celtics blog, CelticsHub)

Well, I’ll give the Celtics one thing.  As far as a team the Bucks can learn from, they won’t be a bad playoff opponent.  It looks like it’ll make for an entertaining series to boot.

In another game that had a couple chippy moments, the Bucks lost a game that didn’t really mean all that much in front of a sold out Bradley Center crowd Saturday night, 105-90.  And when I say it didn’t mean all that much, I’m referring to the fact that it’s looking more and more like these two teams are going to end up seeing each other in the first round of the playoffs.  Atlanta won again Saturday, they’ll likely beat out Boston for the third seed and while the Bucks lost, they still hold a half game lead for fifth and have a tiebreaker over Miami.  But I think a few things in this one meant a little something.

Teams that play hard defense can occasionally rub their opponents the wrong way and both the Celtics and the Bucks do this.  Teams that have won a championship with a core that’s slipping off the top of its perch often give the impression to new challengers that they aren’t worthy.  Boston has won a title with this core.  Teams that haven’t made the playoffs in some time and are making their first run together often want to prove like they belong.  That’d be the Bucks.  So we’re looking at a first round series between the “Old Irish” and the “Young Bucks”, one on the way down, the other on the way up.  They’ll meet in the middle, chips on shoulders in tow.

So believe me when I write that the miniature dust-ups mean at least mean a little something.  No one wants to be disrespected in the NBA.  No one.

But the Celtics are a great first round opponent for tons of reasons.  Not just because they appear most beatable, but because the Bucks can learn lots from their guys.  They can see the intensity they’ll need.  They can feel the type of defense pressure that wins games in the playoffs.  They can see a star at work in fourth quarters in Paul Pierce, watch what he does and how he operates.

But not all the Celtics serve that purpose.  Some of the Celtics are in need of some learning themselves.  Frankly, on Saturday night, Glen “Big Baby” Davis looked like, well, pardon the obvious pun, but, a Big Baby.  His reaction to a hard foul by Kurt Thomas led to a technical for his time, an on court talking to by Celtics Coach Doc Rivers and … a flagrant foul on Thomas?  Perhaps Davis did know what he was doing.  It’s possible he was just working the refs.

Ah, working the refs.  Few skills seem more difficult to develop in the NBA or as valuable.  The Celtics are always reminding the refs which team has a title under the belt, though not so obviously.  Constantly, you’ll see a Celtic put their arm around the ref, scowl after a call or, in Rasheed Wallace’s case, scream “and one” every shot attempt.  This was a Michael Redd specialty and, truth be told, may be the area where the Bucks will miss him most during the playoffs.  But playing the masters of this craft will give the Bucks an up close and personal tutoring session on this ever so necessary skill.

Of course, Milwaukee will have plenty of time to watch and learn once this regular season gets out of the way and the playoffs start.  This was simply the appetizer before round one.  Hopefully Milwaukee was paying attention. Read more…

Video Courtesy of CelticsHub.com (They have more! Go check it out!)

Recap/Box Score

He flew out at the Celtics best player, his arm extended far as it could go.  Another night full of blocked shots, his arms must have looked like stop signs to the Celtics.  Every time they ventured into the lane he awaited, ready to throw one of his big, red, horizontal shaped hands at them with the same message warning them to cease.

But he could not get to this one.  The crafty Celtic veteran Paul Pierce faded just far enough back to launch his shot just out of the reach of the Bucks defensive anchor, who’d roamed out to challenge the Celtics tying attempt.  The ball sailed through the air; surely many in the Bradley Center were having Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant flashbacks as if Tuesday’s game were nothing more than a bad horror movie.  We’d seen this killer before in his other shapes, would he do it again?

And then the final shot rimmed out.  Andrew Bogut could breathe a sigh of relief.  Another Herculean effort of his would not go to waste and the Bucks would not bow out at the buzzer yet again.

Bogut finished Tuesday with 25 points (10-18 FG 5-5 FT), 17 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Bucks over the Celtics 86-84 in a game that gave the home crowd and, more importantly, the home team a little taste of the playoffs in early March.  From scoring the Bucks first four points, to helping to deny the Celtics of their possible last two, Bogut did it all for the Bucks.  The typically strong defender Kendrick Perkins did his best to muscle Bogut out of the lane and challenge his shots, only to see the Aussie drop in one running hook and spin after the next.  Especially pleasing for Bucks fans were the moments when Bogut was truly aggressive.

I love seeing Bogut drop in hooks as much as the next person, but it can leave him out of position for rebounds and keep him from getting to the line.  That’s why it was so delightful to see Bogut grab a rebound for a put back dunk or cram in a top ten nominee on Glen Davis.  Defensively Bogut is the total package and offensively he has as good a finesse game around the hoop as any big man in the league.  At times I’ve thought he lacked killer instinct, nasty demeanor and a midrange game.  Tonight?  Well, he missed a 15-footer that would have put it away with a minute to go, but I can live with that — especially if I keep seeing the instinct and the nasty that was on display Tuesday. Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 33-29

Vs.

Boston Celtics (Doc Rivers) 40-21

Date: 3/9/2010

Time: 7:00 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Matchups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Rajon Rondo

Length, quickness, instincts, tenacity, you name it and Rondo has it defensively.  So don’t expect another barrage of open three-point looks and all kinds of fancy hand gestures from Jennings in this one.  Jennings and Rondo are quite a study in contrasts.  Jennings has a steady, if not prolific, outside shot, but thus far in his career has been unable to finish inside in his career.  Rondo on the other hand, is finishing nearly two thirds of his shots at the rim, but shoots threes like a drunk at a carnival.  Rondo’s experience, length and general dominance defensively give him the edge over the Milwaukee rook though.

Advantage: Celtics Read more…

(From the Daily Dime Live) “Zach Lowe (Celtics Hub) – And we are tied entering the 4th quarter. If you’re a sub-.500 team who plays hard, you are almost guaranteed to play the C’s close in Boston this season. It’s uncanny.”

Unfortunately for the Bucks, that doesn’t necessarily result in wins.  Yes, playing hard is great and coming close against the Celtics is fun, but ultimately losing sucks.  While this game wasn’t nearly as frustrating as the Cleveland Blowout last Sunday, it wasn’t very satisfying to see the Bucks put it together when they needed it most.  If they got a stop, they couldn’t get a bucket.  If they got a bucket, they couldn’t get a stop.  Ultimately they blew it over a two and a half minute stretch in the fourth.

The most difficult thing to swallow about this stretch is the Bucks inability to even get a shot up.  Two turnovers by Andrew Bogut and one from Brandon Jennings. That’s the just the strength of the Celtic defense.  Sure, Bogut burned them for 25 points, but when push came to shove, the Celtics ramped it up a notch.  On Jennings turnover in particular the Bucks looked especially passive and Jennings looked like a rookie for certain.  Kevin Garnett jumped out and looked mischevious like he always does and Jennings looked rattled before coughing it up on a double dribble.  That’s the kinds of mental breakdowns that solid veteran teams to not make.  In time my friends, in time. Read more…

Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 9-10

(Likely) Inactives: Joe Alexander, Francisco Elson and Michael Redd

at

Boston Celtics (Doc Rivers) 16-4

(Likely) Inactives: Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels and Tony Allen

Date: 12/8/2009

Game time: 6:30 (CST)

TV: FS Wisconsin

Match-Ups

Point Guard

Brandon Jennings vs. Rajon Rondo

Rondo is one of those point guards who doesn’t shoot very well, only it doesn’t matter because he’s so freaking good.  He’s nearly as quick as anyone in the league and has terrific size and athleticism for a point guard.  He takes over half of his shots at the time and hits 69 percent of them.  That’s a recipe for disaster for the Bucks defense … unless they can foul him before he finishes.  When I say Rondo can’t shoot, it really is clear when you take a look at his free throw percentage.  A career 62 percent shooter, Rondo is down to 40.6 this year.  For a point guard!  Some how he’s only shooting a touch over one per game despite taking it to the rack being his preferred offense.  After passing to Allen and KG that is.  It will be a tough night for Brandon Jennings, as Rondo is also the league leader in steals per game at 2.5.

Advantage: Celtics Read more…