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MILWAUKEE – Beware of the Western Conference elitists, you are obsessed with the Splash-Brother, nothing remarkable happens in the hoop on the east side of the Mississippi River: the Milwaukee Bucks are legitimate candidates to grab a N.B.A. championship.
They are characterized by long and spongy jumpers, a relentless defense, a gang rebound and a battalion of fencers who are more than willing to make a 3-point shot. And their resident superhero – Giannis Antetokounmpo – reminds LeBron James that he enjoys playing the ball with a teammate as well as scoring.
Here. Complaints were sent by email to my editor, because this New Yorker, whose crystal ball is often cracked, disappeared and sent this swell from the American Upper Midwest.
There should not be any shrugs in front of the Milwaukee Bucks after they behaved like a real favorite and demolished the Boston Celtics and put them with recycling. They took the series, four games against one, and the game Wednesday night was 116-91. The journalists were able to start polishing their leads at halftime.
Celtics coach Brad Stephens has made a strong commitment to the post-game press conference, which is not keen to mince words. "They are a big basketball team," he said. "They are better than us. And they deserved it well, and it was clear.
Stephens spoke as coaches do with the search for answers in video games, but her urgent need was a team therapist. The Celtics were torn apart by strange jealousies all season long and locked up. Kyrie Irving, scholar and high-tech goalkeeper, was not the least of the team's problems. He considered himself a leader and spent all year shooting at the young players he claimed to lead.
In Cleveland, he had the impression of playing Robin at LeBron James's Batman.
But after shooting 21-for-65 in the last three games of this series, he would better design his summer hunt in the summer as a protégé looking for a new leader. He entered the post-match press conference in a metaphorically appropriate manner, that is to say alone.
"It's a basketball trip," he told reporters. "They put an end to that."
What they did. Now that the Bucks are preparing for the final phase of the conference, the Western Conference teams could reflect on what lies ahead. Giannis, who was born and raised in Athens and bears the politically incorrect name of The Greek Freak, was clever in a way that was supposed to escape 24 years. Last night, his shot was missed, the defense collapsed and his fingers did not roll. Still, he finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
At the beginning of the game, when statements were required, Antetokounmpo had an exit ready for use. In the first quarter, while the Celtics were not yet registered at D.O.A, Gurney, the Celtics' center, Al Horford, put the ball under the basket. He pretended and fired a shot towards the edge.
Antetokounmpo stood up and, with those long arms of the elastic man, hit the ball in the second row.
His temperament was more impressive. His jump shot is still under construction and the 6-foot-11 center guard remains the most comfortable to drive to the basket where his stride, strength and length torment and torment the defenders. The Celtics became wise at this and collapsed on him in the driveway.
This baffled Antetokounmpo in the first game of the series and made him modestly miserable. He was learning fast. Last night, he pretended to the alley and offered his know-how to Kris Middleton or Connaughton or Bledsoe or to anyone else. He piled aids.
At the post-match press conference, the star directed his muscular guard Eric Bledsoe and recalled his words of encouragement after the defeat of the series' first game by the Bucks. "I received a text message of this type and he said," We have these guys "."
It remains a young team heading to their first conference finals and every step becomes a test. Statistics provide a reason for comfort. The Bucks have played two games with Golden State this season with a total of 3 points. More generally, the Bucks have compiled a 20-10 record against teams from the awful Western Conference. The Warriors returned the favor by accumulating a 22-8 record against the East Coast teams. (The Toronto Raptors, another Easian Conference team, were 22-8 against the West).
Coach Mike Budenholzer, whose defensive play and intensity are so much part of the team's success, climbed onto the podium after the game. He interviewed for the Knicks coaching position last summer and this team in his not infinite wisdom passed it on. Budenholzer and Warrior coach Steve Kerr – who was offered the Knicks post a few years ago and who refused it – are founding members of No Second Thoughts.
"We talk about defense every day and the commitment sets the tone," Budenholzer said. "For Giannis, trusting the pass and his teammates" was great.
This maturity was at the rendezvous in the third quarter when the Celtics took an extreme turn to the Bucks. Celtic Jayson Tatum looked set to take a rebound and throw the ball. Until Antetokounmpo jumped up and stretched out his arms, tore off Tatum's bounce and set off on the ground like a hunting coyote.
When the Celtics had the spirit to collapse, the Bucks star jumped off the ball and threw the ball to teammate Pat Connaughton, who immediately hit a 3- pointer.
The Bucks earned 16 points, 76-60, and you wanted to send an e-mail to the Western Conference. Be careful, guys. A monster could fight its way.
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