The Celtics travel to Milwaukee for their first meeting with the Bucks this season. Here are three questions before tipoff.
Can Boston keep its momentum?
The Celtics have won five straight and eight of their last 10. They now face a Bucks team off to a difficult start, sitting 10th in the East at 10-15. Milwaukee also took a major hit with Giannis Antetokounmpo when news broke that their All-Star wants to explore trade possibilities in addition to being sidelined for a few weeks due to a calf strain.
Over their last 10 games, the Celtics are averaging 122.1 points, 8.4 steals and 5.7 blocks per game. They’re shooting better than 50% from the field while holding opponents under 113 points.
Milwaukee is usually one of the toughest road environments in the league. But if Boston starts strong and takes the energy out of the building early, there’s no reason the winning streak can’t reach six.
Will Jordan Walsh guard Ryan Rollins?
A major turning point this season came when Jordan Walsh was inserted into the starting lineup. Since then, the Celtics have looked like a different team.
Walsh has taken on a wide range of assignments from Tyrese Maxey to Paolo Banchero, handling guards and bigs alike. With Antetokounmpo out, it will be interesting to see whether Joe Mazzulla puts Walsh on Ryan Rollins, who is averaging 17.5 points and six assists while shooting 39% from three and 47.6% from the field.
Walsh has worked his way into early All-Defense conversations. If he can limit Rollins, Boston’s chances of extending its streak grow even stronger.
Can Jaylen Brown extend his 30+ streak?
Jaylen Brown has only scored 50 points once before, but the way he’s scoring the ball, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has one in the near future — maybe as soon as the Bucks game.
Brown has been on a tear, scoring 30 against the Lakers and Raptors before dropping 42 on the Knicks. Prior to a quieter 19-point outing against the Cavaliers, he posted 41 (Timberwolves), 33 (Pistons) and 35 (Magic).
His recent run has pushed him into the MVP conversation, and he was recently named the NBA’s Player of the Week. Entering the year, some questioned whether Brown could be a No. 1 option while Jayson Tatum is out. So far, he’s answered that call.
Brown has only scored 50 once in his career, but with the way he’s playing, another one feels inevitable — maybe even tonight in Milwaukee.
