NBA Game Of The Week: Celtics v Bucks – Stats, Odds, Insights, & Predictions
2 months ago - Sportingbase
Our upcoming NBA game of the week sees two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams face off.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (7-0) @ BOSTON CELTICS (4-2)
AEDT: Friday, Nov. 2, 11am
EDT: Thursday, Nov. 1, 8pm. Boston, MA. TD Garden (19,580)
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics could very well be the remaining two teams left in the Eastern Conference come playoff time. At this early stage of the season though, one of these teams has been underwhelming and the other is exceeding expectations.
When Lebron James famously left the Cavs this offseason, he also left a gaping hole in the Eastern Conference for someone to fill. The Celtics entered this season as the favourite to fill the Lebron void. But based off this month, the Bucks look more likely.
Speaking of likely, the Bucks also look likely to be last year’s Houston Rockets: best regular season team in the league. They currently shoot three-pointers like the Rockets – the Bucks are second in the league in percentage of shots taken from three (44.3%), only behind the Rockets. With the ability to shoot threes, a solid defence, a deep roster of valuable role players, an MVP candidate, and a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks could be the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Call it October basketball – or trying to fit previously injured players into the rotation – but the Boston Celtics’ offense has been disjointed. Kyrie Irving doesn’t look his dynamic self, and Gordon Hayward is understandably taking things slow coming back from the gruesome ankle fracture that ruled him out all of last season. The offense is currently run through the game’s most promising 20-year-old, Jayson Tatum. But he’s just that – 20-years-old. He needs some help during these formative years if Boston are to reach the NBA finals for the first time in a decade.
Thankfully, Boston still have one of the best defences, orchestrated by the best coach in the game, Brad Stevens. If they beat the Bucks on Friday, it’s probably because the young mastermind found a flaw he could expose in the Bucks upgraded offense. Unfortunately for Stevens, there doesn’t seem to be a flaw to expose yet.
Budenholzer has unleashed Giannis Antetokounmpo this year. The Greek Freak is allowed plenty of room to work in the Budenholzer’s offense, frequently working in the post more than in the past. Pair him with a solid group of shooters and length on defence and it’s easy to see why they’re 7-0.
However, going against everything that we’ve seen this year, the Celtics just need a big night from Kyrie at home to galvanise the offense. The Celtics are the best team the Bucks have faced so far this season, and the Celtics also have last year’s playoff victory as psychological advantage.
| Regular Season Stats | Bucks | Celtics |
| Points/game (rank) | 120.0 (4) | 101.5 (29) |
| Points allowed | 104.1 (4) | 96.3 (1) |
| Rebounds | 6.7 (27) | 9.3 (13) |
| Assists | 26.9 (5) | 22.7 (21) |
| Blocks | 7.3 (2) | 4.2 (25) |
| Steals | 5.9 (28) | 6.0 (26) |
| Turnovers | 17.1 (27) | 13.8 (11) |
| 2PT Shot % | 55.5% (5) | 46.3% (29) |
| 3PT Shot % | 38.4% (6) | 33.3% (23) |
| Opponent 2PT Shot % | 39.4% (1) | 40.8% (3) |
| Opponent 3PT Shot % | 28.8% (2) | 27.6% (1) |
Our Tip
Boston are yet to reach their potential this year and yet, they remain 4-2. An upset is on the cards: Boston to win.
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.
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