Continuing our series of 2018 NBA Playoffs first round previews here at GiveMeSport.
READ: Part 1 - After a franchise-best season, the Toronto Raptors should not be threatened by the Washington Wizards
READ: Part 2 - The Golden State Warriors struggled down the stretch, but so did the San Antonio Spurs, and only one could afford to
READ: Part 3 - The Miami Heat play relentless defence, but the Philadelphia 76ers might have just too many stars
READ: Part 4 - Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans to face off in a battle of guards, threes and Anthony Davis ____________________________________ In slowly dismantling their title-winning team, the Boston Celtics embarked on a multi-year 'reload' specifically to be able to acquire multiple star talents via a plethora of shrewdly acquired assets without having to tank. It worked at pretty much every stage, and none more so than this past offseason. Via the signing of Gordon Hayward and the trade for Kyrie Irving, the Celtics did precisely that this past offseason, moving from Very Good Regular Season Team territory into what, it was assumed, was legitimate NBA Championship candidacy. Unfortunately, it seems we will not now get to see quite how legitimate that candidacy is. Labouring down the stretch of the regular season, Irving was initially prescribed rest for his bad knee, but when that did not work, season-ending surgery was the only option. With Hayward missing all but three minutes of the season with his own season-ending surgery, the three star claim was moot, and it seems the recently opened title window was quickly closed again. Kyrie in particular was hugely important to everything the Celtics did offensively. Even with him, and with head coach Brad Stevens's remarkable playbook nuance, the Celtics were still prone to coming up short offensively. Only Irving and 2018 NBA All-Star Al Horford could be classified as above average offensive creators, and yet while it is to Horford's individual credit that he has been able to develop his game in this way over his career, a roster necessitating him to have to do so much ball handling and on-the-move passing is one with a capped upside. Without Irving, that cap is significantly lowered. And so without him, will the Celtics have any chance of making a deep run?
READ: Part 2 - The Golden State Warriors struggled down the stretch, but so did the San Antonio Spurs, and only one could afford to
READ: Part 3 - The Miami Heat play relentless defence, but the Philadelphia 76ers might have just too many stars
READ: Part 4 - Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans to face off in a battle of guards, threes and Anthony Davis ____________________________________ In slowly dismantling their title-winning team, the Boston Celtics embarked on a multi-year 'reload' specifically to be able to acquire multiple star talents via a plethora of shrewdly acquired assets without having to tank. It worked at pretty much every stage, and none more so than this past offseason. Via the signing of Gordon Hayward and the trade for Kyrie Irving, the Celtics did precisely that this past offseason, moving from Very Good Regular Season Team territory into what, it was assumed, was legitimate NBA Championship candidacy. Unfortunately, it seems we will not now get to see quite how legitimate that candidacy is. Labouring down the stretch of the regular season, Irving was initially prescribed rest for his bad knee, but when that did not work, season-ending surgery was the only option. With Hayward missing all but three minutes of the season with his own season-ending surgery, the three star claim was moot, and it seems the recently opened title window was quickly closed again. Kyrie in particular was hugely important to everything the Celtics did offensively. Even with him, and with head coach Brad Stevens's remarkable playbook nuance, the Celtics were still prone to coming up short offensively. Only Irving and 2018 NBA All-Star Al Horford could be classified as above average offensive creators, and yet while it is to Horford's individual credit that he has been able to develop his game in this way over his career, a roster necessitating him to have to do so much ball handling and on-the-move passing is one with a capped upside. Without Irving, that cap is significantly lowered. And so without him, will the Celtics have any chance of making a deep run?
If they do, it will be the relative averageness of their first round opponent, the Milwaukee Bucks, that will be the reason why.
Despite having fellow All-Star and literally-no-one-has-been-quite-like-this-before superstar talent Giannis Anteotkounmpo to work with, the Bucks have never threatened to be competitive in this conference. Despite a mid-season trade for Eric Bledsoe to shore up the point guard position and a backcourt that lagged behind their depth of frontcourt talents, the Bucks never hit any great stride. And even after firing their head coach - a 23-22 record compiled under Jason Kidd's half of the season became only a 21-16 record under his interim replacement Joe Prunty, a small but not striking improvement - the Bucks never got out of the low seeds. The 10-3 start under Prunty did not sustain.
For a season long total body of work, they rank middle of the pack or worse in many key metrics. A decent 9th place in offensive efficiency was mitigated by a 19th place in defensive efficiency, and an overall -0.3 net rating. Despite all the length and athleticism, the Bucks ranked only 20th in pace, attempt the fourth-fewest three-pointers, and, somehow, rank dead last in rebounding. These personnel should not fit this conclusion, and yet here we are.