We’re halfway through the first Celtics-Bucks matchup of the season and I have to be honest, I’ve seen better halves. Despite dressing appropriately (wearing the home white jerseys at home) the Cs are trailing 56-53.
I was planning on making a “which statue is worse, the Dwyane Wade one or Damian Lillard?” joke here, but honestly Lillard has been fine.
Now, get ready for some Halftime Hot Takes, buddy.
Petty Joe Mazzulla is unrivaled and undefeated
Just two and a half minutes into the first quarter, Joe Mazzulla decided he had seen enough of the shenanigans from Tony Brothers and Co. He challenged an out-of-bounds call after Derrick White and Taurean Prince had battled for a loose ball.
As the heading would tell you, Boston won the challenge and possession of the ball (which they so kindly gifted right back to the Bucks).
Al Horford’s got at least five years left, right?
Boston’s 38-year-old big man doesn’t look a day over 27. Games like this one are always an interesting watch when Al Horford is tasked with guarding an opposing team’s best player. Monday it is, of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The two have had plenty of battles in the past, meeting in the playoffs on several occasions.
The first quarter of this one gave us another chapter in the rivalry (we can call it that, right?). Antetokounmpo wound up with 11 early points, but Horford did give us all a highlight. He rejected the Greek Freak on a drive, which led to the Celtics’ first points of the night.
It wasn’t a perfect start, but it’s pretty great to see that he’s still got a bit left in the tank after all of these years. Plus, a good chunk of those buckets from Giannis came in transition, where he is essentially unstoppable.
Jokes aside, Payton Pritchard may have a legitimate chance at Sixth Man of the Year.
The first 24 minutes of this one have served as another point in Payton Pritchard’s Sixth Man of the Year resume. Boston’s No. 11 was arguably the team’s best player in the opening half with 19 points off of the bench.
Once he checked in about halfway through the first, it was clear it was going to be one of “those nights.”
He buried three after three, finishing the half with an efficient 7-10 shooting clip.
As Boston battled the Bucks in the second quarter, Pritchard put in 11 straight to help them keep pace with the visitors. Honestly, there is a pretty good chance they’d be in big trouble without him.
If I’m not mistaken, Pritchard entered the season with odds of +3,000 (30/1) to win the NBA’s 6MOY Award. As of today, those sit at +1,400 (14/1). If he continues to be an absolute flamethrower, then he should be towards the top of the ballot for award voters.
