Despite Gordon Hayward's injury in the season opener, the Celtics upgrade in talent is obvious. Not only is Kyrie Irving showcasing his skills as Boston's number one option, but Jayson Tatum has come in as a rookie ready to play, and Jaylen Brown has taken a leap from last year to this one.
But by adding Hayward and Irving, Boston's depth took a major hit. At best, the Celtics have eight healthy NBA rotation players. Early in the season, this may be something they can work around, but as minutes pile up and injuries occur, this will ultimately wear them down come April and May.
The matchup tonight revolved around All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Around the basket, these two are among the top finishers in the league. But what Irving does with quickness and creativity, Antetokounmpo achieves with power and length. Both dazzled in the game with their unique skills, but the Celtics had a bit more firepower and were able to hold on for the seven-point victory.
Celtics Game MVP
While Irving had a strong game, it was Al Horford who brought the goods tonight. Displaying his all-around game, Horford scored 27 points on 11-14 shooting and was 4-5 from three-point range. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists. Horford's worth doesn't always show up in the stats, but when he scores like he did against the Bucks, it makes the Celtics tough to beat.
Rest of Celtics starters
Kyrie Irving finished the game with 24 points and seven assists. His 10-18 from the floor made this the best shooting night of his short Celtics career. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both continue to play well beyond their years. The rookie Tatum impressed by scoring in double digits (12 points). And While Brown struggled with his shot, 2-10 from the field, he scored nine points and grabbed 10 boards.
Daniel Theis started at center and hauled in five rebounds.
The Celtics bench
After being out with an injury the previous two games, Marcus Smart returned to action with eight points and four assists. Aron Baynes was a beast down low (12 points/seven rebounds), but also challenged Antetokounmpo several times at the rim. Terry Rozier chipped in four points and eight rebounds.
Final thoughts
Giannis Antetokounmpo showed why he'll be in the MVP conversation all season long. Without much help from his teammates, he single-handily kept the Bucks in the game. His stat line (28 points/ten rebounds/seven assists) indicates just how dominant he was, but it's the aesthetic of his game that leaves fans breathless. All that's stopping him is a jump shot.
