Subscribe
Follow Us
The Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks has lived up to the hype thus far. The series is currently split at two wins apiece with each team able to steal a game on their opponent's home court. The matchup is loaded with storylines and has been an impressive defensive battle throughout.
With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 is a pivotal matchup. The team that wins Game 5 in a 2-2 best-of-seven series has gone on to win 82.8% of the time throughout NBA history. The winner of Game 5 is 164-34 all-time in this situation. The series will head to Boston for the matchup which gives the Celtics the home-court advantage. The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champs for a reason so expect them to be prepared to make a statement in this crucial game.
3 Milwaukee Bucks bold predictions for Game 5 vs Celtics
Giannis Scores 40+ Points
There is not much more that can be said about Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is a two-time NBA MVP, six-time all-star, and the reigning Finals MVP. The Greek Freak is incredibly impactful on both sides of the floor and has made his case why he is the best player in the NBA at the moment.
Giannis has scored over 30 points five times already this postseason including a 42-point performance in the Game 3 victory. Even amid his current dominance, it feels he is capable of more. Antetokounmpo has shot below 50% from the field in three of the four games this series. In total, he is shooting 43.9% from the field in the series which is well below his average on the year of 55.3%.
The Celtics' defense deserves a great deal of credit for the defensive effort so far this series. But it is exhausting to continue this against a player of Giannis' size and physicality. If the defensive effort slips for even a small amount of time, expect Antetokounmpo to take over. Look for this to occur in Game 5 and for it to be a major issue for the Celtics.
Al Horford is held to 10 or fewer points
Al Horford has been nothing short of incredible in this series. The veteran big man is playing his best basketball in years and is seeing a career revival back in Boston. The 35-year-old set a playoff career-high in Game 4 with his 30-point effort on 11-for-14 shooting. He also changed the momentum of the game with a statement dunk on Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4.
Article Continues Below
AL HORFORD MY GOODNESS 😤 pic.twitter.com/rWoi69x7NI
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 10, 2022
The impressive play of Al Horford deserves a ton of credit, but expect some changes from the Bucks defensively. You are playing with fire when taking defensive attention away from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But, Horford has earned this. Expect Giannis and the Bucks defense to have a focused effort on the veteran and for him to be held below his season average of 10.2 points per game.
Bobby Portis scores 18+ points
It was just about this time last year when Bobby Portis cemented his legacy as a Milwaukee legend forever. The Arkansas product played a valuable role in the Bucks' playoff run last year. Portis had a great season this year where he produced a career-high 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds.
With the Bucks in need of a spark, “Bobby Bifocals” is the obvious answer. His energy is infectious on the court and Portis is capable of contributing to a victory. Al Horford's increase in production could also lead to an uptick in minutes for Portis. The 6'10” forward has been unable to score in double figures in either of the last two games. He has cooled down after adding 15 and 13 points in the first two games of the series, but this can change quickly.
Expect the Bucks to lean on Bobby Portis for increased playoff production in Game 5. This series has been so close throughout that an improved performance from Portis could be the recipe for a win. The Bucks must hope he still has some of the same playoff magic as last season and bank on this to drive the team to a victory.
