Doc Rivers points out ‘night-and-day’ difference between Celtics and Bucks
"They're a made team. They've been through it. They've been through the war together."
The Celtics and Bucks have been two of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference for years now.
However, the balance of power has shifted. Milwaukee broke through and won a championship in 2021 while the Celtics were still in search of their championship identity.
Now, it’s the Celtics who are the defending champions. The Bucks are still trying to find their way after trading Jrue Holiday and other assets for Damian Lillard.
Milwaukee lost eight of their first 10 games this season. They’ve won eight of their last 11, even with last night’s loss, a sign that they are beginning to figure things out.
Still, there’s a significant difference in where the teams are at, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.
“The difference is they didn’t settle,” Rivers said. “They kept playing, and I thought we settled. It’s night and day, the difference between the two teams. They’re a made team. They’ve been through it. They’ve been through the war together.
“They understand it, and they play that way,” Rivers added. “They have the ultimate trust. They’ll pass until there’s one second on the clock to try to find someone. They did that a couple of times and that’s why they are what they are. That wasn’t them two years ago, and it is them now. That’s what makes them the champions.”
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had a 30-point, 11-rebound double-double, said preparing for the Celtics means bringing your “A” game.
“They’re the defending champs,” Antetokounmpo said. “They beat everybody last year. So, when you play them, you expect them to be the best. You come in to play the best, and the way they play is effective, they won the championship … when you come to Boston you’ve got to bring your “A” game because they’re the defending champs and the way they play is very effective.”
Holiday, a major part of the Bucks’ defensive identity when they won in 2021, said he relishes each opportunity to beat his former team.
“In between those lines, from when it’s tip-off to the buzzer, I want to win. I love them,” Holiday said. “It was great seeing them. But, every time I play them and probably even more so because they’re like my brothers, I want to whip their a** every time and they know that. They feel the same way about me. It’s just about being competitive.”
The star power, physicality, and recent history of this rivalry make it a juicy one. Milwaukee and Boston have met in three of the last six playoffs. Two of those series went seven games.
Al Horford said it just feels a little different whenever the Celtics take on the Bucks.
“No question. There’s certain teams where it just does,” Al Horford. “We’ve been (playing) since JT’s rookie year. We went to seven against those guys and year after year both teams have had a lot of success in the East. It is different when you play them. That’s just the reality.”
The Celtics have swept the season-series with the Bucks and trail only Cleveland in the Eastern Conference standings. If the playoffs started today, the Bucks would be the sixth seed.
With that said, it’s clear that the Celtics aren’t treating Milwaukee that way. They may not fear the deer, but they respect its capabilities.
“It’s just always a little something there as a competitor because we’ve knocked them out in the playoffs,” Jayson Tatum said. “They’ve knocked us out, we’ve both won a championship in the last couple of years. Two prideful teams and you just always know it’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be fun, and it’s going to be competitive.”
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