Celtics vs. Bucks NBA Odds, Preview and Best Bets (Archive)
In the jumbled Eastern Conference standings, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks will face off with playoff seeding on the line. In a game with huge playoff implications, which team is the right NBA pick?
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Thursday, April 07, 2022 – 07:30 PM EDT at Fiserv Forum
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics' resurgence has been the story of the second half of the NBA season. Since the beginning of February, the Celtics are an impressive 22-5. The Celtics' turnaround has been keyed by the excellent defense. The Celtics are first this season in defensive efficiency. The Celtics know in order to win games, you need to get stops.
On the offensive end, Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum leads the way. Tatum's development has been a joy for Boston Celtics fans to watch. Tatum is excellent in the mid-range, can hit the wide-open 3, and is an adept passer when faced with the double team. At the end of the game, when the Celtics really need to score, Jayson Tatum will be the man with the ball in his hands.
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Jaylen Brown's contribution to the team cannot be understated as well. When opponents decide to double-team Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown takes over and he has a more aggressive skill-set. Jaylen Brown loves to use his quickness to get to the rim or get space for a wide-open jumper. Jaylen Brown is the perfect secondary punch on offense next to Jayson Tatum.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are another team that has come to life as the season is ending. The Bucks posted an impressive 11-3 record in March. They look to keep that excellent momentum going. With all the problems surrounding the Brooklyn Nets organization, the Bucks have emerged as the favorite by NBA odds to win the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks most recent outing was a 21 point victory over the Chicago Bulls to clinch the Central Division title. Brook Lopez, who missed the majority of the season with an injured back, showed that he is ready for the playoffs by scoring a season-high 28 points to lead the Bucks to victory. The win by the Bucks completed a four-game season sweep against the Chicago Bulls, and once again reinforced their dominance over other Eastern Conference teams.
Key Matchup
Al Horford vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Al Horford is the veteran player who earns his keep on the defensive end. While Horford is no longer the athletic wonder that he once was, Horford uses guile and intelligence to keep his opponents from having a big night.
Horford's skills will definitely be needed tonight going against the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Horford is able to play Giannis one on one, that gives the Celtics defense many more options when dealing with the supporting cast of the Bucks.
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If Horford fails to contain Giannis and makes double-teaming the Greek superstar necessary, then it will open up offensive opportunities for all of the Bucks on the floor.
It is crucial that Horford is able to do well in trying to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo one-on-one if the Celtics are going to keep pace with the defending champions tonight. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is able to have a big night even while drawing double teams, the Celtics have little to no chance of victory.
Best Bet
There are two solid ways to approach this game. First, let's take a look at the total. The total and the outcome are correlated. The Bucks want to play a high-paced game, while the Celtics will be trying to take advantage of their superior half-court execution. Milwaukee has an excellent defense, especially in transition, so they have advantages on both ends of the floor in a high-paced game.
The Celtics will be much happier in a half-court game, especially without the quickness of injured center Robert Williams in the lineup. Choosing the total is almost akin to choosing the side in my mind.
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I like the Bucks to win the game so therefore I like the 'over' as well. The Celtics are an excellent team but they did play last night in Chicago. The Bucks have been so strong at home this season.
The Bucks are finally at full strength and gearing up for this game like it is a playoff game. The Celtics will simply have no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. As good as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are, they will have problems keeping pace with the defending champs.
We have two best bets for this NBA game. The first is Boston Celtics/Milwaukee Bucks Over 227.5. The second is Milwaukee -5.5.
Best Bets
NBA Pick: Over 227.5 (-115) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
NBA Pick: Milwaukee -5.5 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.