After kicking off the series with a game one victory, the Boston Celtics have dug themselves into a 3-1 deficit with Monday night’s game four 113-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Perhaps us Boston Celtics fans are the one’s to blame. Right? I mean, let’s be completely honest with each other. We easily could’ve seen this coming. All season long we’ve dealt with constant conflicted emotions, failing to decide where to stand with this team.
Trust me I’m 100 percent in that exact same boat. From an 11-4 team in January to a 5-6 team heading into the All-Star Break in February, I had no idea where this team was heading, nor could I confidently stick by a cemented prediction regarding them heading down the line and towards the end of the season.
This has been perhaps the most confusing Boston Celtics season of my lifetime and just like that, it’s on it’s way to ending.
Ninety-six percent of teams in the history of the NBA Playoffs have successfully eliminated their opponent in a seven-game series when leading 3-1. That’s where we stand. The 2018-19 Boston Celtics season sits in a Milwaukee hospital bed on life support, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, and Mike Budenhozer are reaching out the pull the plug.
It’s a nightmare that again could’ve been seen from miles away, but still somehow manages to leave you in a state of shock when it arrives.
However, when watching the sorry excuse of an effort in Game 4, there isn’t a Charles Barkley quote on the planet that can provide me with a sliver of hope with this Celtics team a game from elimination and with the series heading over to Milwaukee.
Here are three reactions from the Boston Celtics Game 4 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kyrie Irving
Leader Irving right? Wrong.
The ongoing topic that’s stuck on Kyrie Irving more than the New York Knicks and tanking.
Remember, Kyrie Irving ditched playing with this generation’s greatest player in LeBron James because he himself wanted to be the man and lead. Well, following last night’s 12-point loss the only place Irving led the Boston Celtics to was the tunnel and to the locker-room.
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Game 4 was perhaps the most deceiving, misleading double-double of Kyrie Irving’s career. Irving finished the night with 23 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists.
This night was complimented with a 7-of-22 shooting from the field with a game-leading four turnovers. Yet despite shooting 31.8 percent from the field Irving wasn’t fazed by the efficiency or lack thereof, stating during during the post-game interview:
"“I’m trying to do it all. For me, 22 shots, I should have shot 30.”"
Irving finished a -6 on the floor and failed to lead the Celtics when time opportunities rose. Midway into the third quarter the Milwaukee Bucks found Giannis Antetokounmpo with four fouls and 8:18 left in the quarter. However the golden opportunity was not countered by any means. Giannis would only play 3:42 in the third, lowest of any active Bucks player for that quarter.
However, Irving would not take leadership in his 12 minutes, matching Giannis’ seven third quarter points in roughly triple the amount of time that Giannis was on the floor.
Kyrie Irving vs Giannis Antetokounmpo (Third Quarter of Game 4)
- Giannis (3:42)- 5 points, 3/3 FG, 1/2 3-PT FG, 2/2 FT, 3 rebounds
- Kyrie (12:00)- 5 points, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3-PT FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists
Within the past three games, also known as the three consecutive losses to Milwaukee, Kyrie Irving has combined to shoot 19-for-62 from the field, or 30.6 percent.
Boston Celtics bench
Lets just go down the line with the box score from Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Marcus Smart.
Gordon Hayward (26:38)- 2 points, 1/5 FG, 0/2 3-PT FG, 3 rebounds, -11 (+/-)
A resemblance of the early season Gordon Hayward that we saw from October to December made an unfortunate appearance last night. Hayward was both tedious and inefficient which is just about the worst combination Brad Stevens could get from nearly 27 minutes of Hayward on the floor.
Aggression was not at all present and Hayward failed to connect on wide open shots.
Terry Rozier (10:27)- 2 points, 1/5 FG, 0/3 3-PT FG, 2 rebounds, -11 (+/-)
Last night’s performance is one Terry Rozier certainly won’t be showcasing on his resume as he makes his case for a starting point guard job in the league. Rozier was extremely inefficient on both ends of the floor, forcing plays that weren’t there and failing to get a hold of any sort of momentum throughout the night.
Marcus Smart (14:39)- 3 points, 1/7 FG, 1/7 3-PT FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, -13 (+/-)
Granted, this was a return to in-game action and the playoff debut for Marcus Smart. However this was one of the ugliest performances offensively from the teams most elite defender. Smart looked completely lost, trying to force and overthink several plays leading to turnovers and poor shot selections.
Boston Celtics defense
The ultimate killer.
It appeared as though defense would play to Boston’s advantage considering the fact that they managed to hold the Indiana Pacers under 100 points in three of the series’ four games in round one.
Granted I’m fully aware that the Pacers don’t have a Greek Freak, nevertheless let’s consider that Boston managed to defend Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks well entirely throughout game one in Milwaukee. All taking place without their elite defensive stopper in Marcus Smart.
A combination of Aaron Baynes and Al Horford using a physical approach, forced Giannis to play at a much slower pace, deferring to other options and at times making poor decisions in Game 1.
Yet, that’s all disappeared. After allowing just 90 points to the Bucks in game one, the Boston Celtics defense have allowed an average of 119.6 points through games two-four.
Don’t be surprised if Stevens makes a lineup switch involving Baynes and Marcus Morris come Game 5 in Milwaukee.
Let’s see which Boston Celtics team shows up with the season on the line.