BOSTON — Friday’s game was barely 12 minutes old, and Giannis Antetokounmpo already was proving why he’s one of the most dangerous young players in the NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 6-foot-11 super-point guard imposed his will on the Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. The “Greek Freak” went coast-to-coast for a vicious slam and the foul on the team’s fourth possession. A few minutes later, he drilled his first of two 3-pointers in the quarter. By the end of the first frame, Antetokounmpo had 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block.
That’s when Brad Stevens decided to release Avery Bradley.
The Celtics’ defensive specialist switched onto Antetokounmpo in the second quarter and did a masterful job, as the 21-year-old scored just three points in the frame while picking up three fouls (two offensive) and committing three turnovers.
Bradley had plenty of help, as Marcus Smart took a charge on Antetokounmpo and his teammates stepped up their help defense. But after the game, Giannis credited Bradley for taking him out of his rhythm.
“They put a smaller guy on me, Bradley,” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s got quick feet. I was trying to get him in the post but I never felt really comfortable, couldn’t find my spot on the floor. So I didn’t have the opportunity to punish the defense when they switched Bradley on me.”
That trend continued the rest of the night, as Antetokounmpo picked up two more fouls in the third quarter to head to the bench with 27 points despite scoring all but 10 of them in the first quarter. The Celtics took things from there, coasting to a 124-09 win.
“Avery guarded him for the better part of the end of the second, early third, and did a good job,” Stevens said of Antetokounmpo. “And then he fouled twice and ended up with five fouls. That was probably the best thing that happened.”
There’s been some campaigning around the NBA to put Bradley on the All-Defensive First Team this season, and his work on the Bucks’ 6-foot-11 superstar is just another feather in his cap.
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— Speaking of campaigning, the Celtics made their case for Jae Crowder as the NBA’s Most Improved Player by passing out flyers to media before Friday’s game:
Celtics campaign of the day: Jae Crowder for MIP. pic.twitter.com/F3x5qJg5Kl
— Darren Hartwell (@darren_hartwell) April 8, 2016
Crowder, who is averaging career highs in every major statistical category, also got a vote of confidence from his head coach.
“I think the defensive versatility stands out on that end, and then the shooting,” Stevens said. “I think that sometimes gets overlooked and not talked about. He’s a very accurate long-range shooter, and just another guy standing out there as a threat not only opens up his chances but opportunities for everybody else.”
— The Celtics got some big help on both ends of the NBA standings Friday.
The Miami Heat fell to the Orlando Magic, giving Boston a one-game lead over them and the Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed. The Hornets, meanwhile, beat the Brooklyn Nets, who now are tied for the NBA’s third-worst record with the Phoenix Suns. (The Celtics own Brooklyn’s first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.)
The C’s currently have the same record as the Hawks and can take sole possession of the No. 3 seed with a win in Atlanta on Saturday.
“I think we’re very confident,” point guard Isaiah Thomas said of facing Atlanta. “We know it’s a tough team, tough place to win at. We just have to go in there and really lock in and pay attention to detail, and do what we do. Hopefully we can get a win out of there.”
— Bucks coach Jason Kidd, a five-time first-team All-NBA selection during his playing days as a point guard, believes Thomas deserves a spot on this year’s All-NBA squad.
“For sure,” Kidd said at Milwaukee’s shootaround, via Celtics.com. “He’s having a heck of a year and hopefully he makes one of those teams.”
“When you talk about what kind of a season Isaiah is having, an All-Star, could be on one of the All-NBA teams, he’s playing at a very high level,” Kidd added in his pregame press conference.
— Evan Turner returned to action Friday sporting a pair of goggles to protect his left eye. The special eyewear, which Turner claims are in “Chris Douglas-Roberts” style, apparently didn’t affect his court vision, as he tallied nine assists off the bench.
“It was cool,” Turner said of wearing the goggles. “At first it’s a little different to get used to, but other than that, I felt fine.”
— Jonas Jerebko missed Tuesday’s practice due to personal reasons, and we now know why:
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
