The Boston Celtics are aiming for their fifth straight home win tonight at TD Garden, but it is the Milwaukee Bucks’ stunning 1-6 start and completely remade roster that is grabbing all the attention. This is a totally different Bucks squad showing up, and Boston is looking to capitalize on that early season chaos.
Milwaukee’s Wild Rebuild Has Them Reeling
Can you even believe it? Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the core of that Milwaukee squad we knew, are gone. Sent packing to Miami in a massive trade that brought back Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, Jr, and Kasparas Jakucionis. That was just the start of Milwaukee’s complete overhaul. They also nabbed Caris LeVert from Detroit, signed Pete Nance and Kam Jones to two-way deals, and added Bogoljub Markovic as a free agent. On top of that, they drafted Braydon Burries with the 10th pick and Nate Ament with the 13th.
Of course, with all those new faces, a lot of old ones had to go. Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson, and Kevin Porter are all out the door along with Giannis and Portis. They even swapped out head coaches, bringing in Taylor Jenkins to replace Doc Rivers. All that change has absolutely rocked them. The Bucks are sitting at a dismal 1-6, 14th in the Eastern Conference with only Brooklyn behind them. Their one lone win this season was a home game against the Indiana Pacers. That is not the Milwaukee we remember, is it?
Celtics Are Hot At Home, Chasing Top Spot
Meanwhile, over in Boston, things are looking pretty good. The Celtics are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a strong 5-2 record, just behind Philadelphia’s 7-1 and Detroit’s 6-1. They are practically untouchable at TD Garden, boasting a perfect 4-0 home record and looking for their fifth straight victory tonight. They have also had Milwaukee’s number lately, winning the last three straight games against them. Last season, Boston took the series 3-1, only dropping one game in Milwaukee. Historically, the Celtics dominate this matchup, holding a 124-113 overall record and an impressive 77-40 record in games played in Boston. They have even been tinkering with the starting five, trying out new combos with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta. Talk about depth!
This is the first of three matchups between these two teams this season, with the next one coming quickly on November 8 in Milwaukee, and then again in Boston on April 11. After tonight, the Celtics are heading out on a tough road trip through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Toronto. They then get Dallas and Orlando at home before a West Coast swing through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. The Bucks’ schedule is no joke either, as they return home to host Toronto and Boston before hitting the road. Every early win counts, especially when you’re trying to find your footing like Milwaukee or solidify your spot like Boston.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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