The Rafters Pod Ep. 109: Celtics Power Struggle with Bucks
Two powerhouse franchises in the Eastern Conference made premier off-season moves to solidify themselves as undoubted championship contenders. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks made trades directly affecting and as a result of one another to establish an upper hand in the power struggle of the East. The first giant match-up of the season was exactly that. A power struggle.
Boston got off scalding, shooting 58.1% from the field at halftime. A 54-33 lead quickly evaporated as the Bucks bull rushed the Celtics towards the end of the first and through the third. Giannis, Lillard, and Brook Lopez made audiences sit up in their chairs as they closed it to a three point game with 25 seconds left. Milwaukee fan’s hopes was crushed when Tatum was fouled on a three pointer to seal the victory. A flu game for Jayson Tatum fighting through an undisclosed illness to pour in 23 points. Shown up only by Brown’s efficient 26 points.
One of our the shows co-hosts attended the controversial Bulls game on Tuesday night. An in-season Tournament game that required the Celtics to win by 23+ points to qualify for the quarter final game. Mazzulla and the squad did not disappoint breaking away fairly quickly in the game. By halftime, Boston nearly had a 20 point lead but they needed well more than that to feel safe. A unsuspecting Tuesday night game caught the eye of the NBA world when Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla purposefully had his players foul Bulls Center Andre Drummond. The veteran big proceeded to miss the next two sets of foul shots. Bulls coach Billy Donovan was outraged at the fouling act displayed by Boston resting on a 32 point lead. keyboard coaches clamored to discuss whether the act was sportsmanlike or out of bounds. Mazzulla stands on the fact they needed to win by 23+ and he would keep his starters in and foul struggling players to ensure the victory. The guys have much to say on the subject and all others revolving around the TD Garden.
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