Boston's winning strategy against Yannis: "Like me and him on a lonely island"

Grant Williams dealt well with Antocompo in a one-on-one: "manages to frustrate him."

In the meantime, the injuries are disturbing, but the Celtics understand: "Nothing matters now, only the playoffs"

Walla!

sport

04/05/2022

Wednesday, 04 May 2022, 10:11

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Drymond Green responds to his dismissal in Game 1 against Memphis (from Twitter)

Boston is back to looking like a candidate to go all the way.

After a disappointing display in Game 1 against Milwaukee, the Celtics tied the Eastern Semifinals 1-1 tonight (Tuesday-Wednesday), with a convincing 86: 109 victory over the champion.

The game was one-sided from start to finish, and with the exception of the Bucks' comeback attempt in the third quarter which was halted very quickly, the advantage was double-digit most of the time.

What's surprising for the Celtics is the fact that they managed to save so well and bring the Bucks down to 86 points and just 16 percent off the arc, in a game in which they lacked the defensive player of the season, Marcus Smart, who is suffering from an injury.

Smart is expected to return in the next game, but it seems that the Celtics are able to do without him, and especially succeed in the main task against Milwaukee: limiting Yannis Antokompo.

Tonight the Celtics slightly changed their defensive strategy against the Greek giant, sending him fewer assists or double saves.

In the first game, Antocompo did not score high percentages, but he finished with a triple double and took advantage of the focus on him to find his teammates again and again for free throws.

This time, Celtics coach Aime Yuduka decided to pin Grant Williams to Yannis, and try to stop him one-on-one.

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Threes and defense: Boston defeated Milwaukee 86: 109 and tied it at 1: 1

To the full article

The X Factor of the series so far.

Grant Williams vs. Yannis (Photo: GettyImages, Maddie Meyer)

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Surprisingly, it worked: Yannis did finish the game with 28 points (41 percent from the field), but in the first half during which Boston ran away and actually dominated the game, he scored just 5 points with 2 of 12 from the field.

"We agreed that we would keep him more one-on-one defense. We feel we have the right guards to do that," Celtics coach Aima Yuduka said of the change of attitude.

"It's true that in the second half he came ultra-aggressive and reached 28 points, but we dealt with him excellently in the first half."

According to Judoka, Grant Williams, the X Factor of the game who also scored 21 points including 6 threes, was a crucial part of that.

"He's just a diverse player. For me, he's the mini version of Al Horford. He's able to keep guards after substitutions, but he also knows how to deal in the post with strong players. I think he managed to frustrate Yannis some of the time, and that's exactly what we need from him." .

Williams, who shared the minutes defending Yannis with Al Horford, takes the challenge seriously.

"For me, it's like he and I are on a lonely island. Only he and I are on the field," he explains his attitude.

"You know you have to do your job, and focus on it. Everything else is a bonus. In the second half I had a harder time facing him, but in those moments you have to trust yourself, remember what your mission is, and just try to stop the best player in the world."

Concentrated on the task.

Taitum with Aima Yudoka (Photo: GettyImages, Maddie Meyer)

In the first two games of the series, Yannis scored 20 of 52 from the field - just 38.6 percent.

But Bucks coach Mike Bondholzer is confident that "Yannis always finds a way to score," and Antocompo himself doesn't sound particularly bothered either.

"It doesn't change anything in my attitude. These are things that can happen. I'll go home, get something to eat, maybe watch something on Netflix, mourn a bit with the kids, and go back to the hall to practice shots. I know I'll get along in this area."

But the Celtics gave the Bucks a knockout in another important category, on the other side of the field: they just scored a lot more threes.

The Celtics had 20 threes compared to just 3 for the Bucks - that is, 60 points off the arc compared to just 9 for the champion.

The huge gap is also due to Milwaukee's bad day, but also to deeper reasons, like Chris Middleton's downside, and the Celtics' better ball movement.

"We just give up good shots to get even better shots," Jason Taitum explains of the Celtics' approach, who handed out 28 assists tonight and were 46.5 percent off the arc.

"After the first game, we realized that Milwaukee is a really good team that will not allow you to get a good shot in your first drill on offense, not even in the second drill. You have to move the ball all the time, penetrate, produce delivery angles, work hard and move on offense. Good on them, and today we did it. "

The percentages are cause for concern?

Not if you ask him.

Antocompo (Photo: GettyImages, Maddie Meyer)

Taitum played with a bandage in hand in parts of the game, but he said it did not really bother him, or his teammates.

"At this point in the season, you just play and don't think too much. It's the playoffs, it's the real thing," he said.

Jaylen Brown said things in a similar vein when asked about the minor injury he was carrying.

"During the playoffs, my whole life is on hold. There is nothing more important," he explains.

"We just have to come prepared for every game, and ignore small things or small blows. At this stage of the season everyone carries such and such injuries, everyone faces something, but it should not be used as an excuse."

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