The Boston Celtics forced Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Bucks on Sunday in the Boston TD Garden. 

We can expect the Celtics’ Big-3 to light it up and get this job done. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart combined for 83% of Boston’s points in Game 6. This veteran group has been in this position before and understands what needs to be done in Game 7. 

I wrote about how the Celtics aren’t getting enough offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities. Well, the C’s responded by out-rebounding the Bucks in Game 6. Even though it was only by one, it still counts: Celtics 8, Bucks 7.

The ball movement has been great throughout but especially in Game 6 where they produced 22 assists in the game. Boston needs to continue passing the ball around the court and making the Bucks work on defense. 

Continuing to play elite defense throughout the entire game wears down and exhausts the Bucks by the end of the game. Al Horford had six blocks in Game 6. Perhaps he’ll get seven in Game 7? (Not likely but fun thought).

It’s important to say that if you find minutes in this series, you need to produce. Grant Williams (who plays excellent defense) and Payton Pritchard need to score with the amount of minutes they play.

The biggest and most important thing the Celtics need to do is to remain calm, poised, and not allow the moment to be too big (as I just said, this group has been in this spot before).

Marcus Smart on us closing out down the stretch: “Everybody was just calm, everybody kept their composure, and everybody was as poised as we’ve ever been.”

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 14, 2022

Quick Update

Robert Williams is still considered to be day-to-day as he’s still recovering from knee surgery. He’s more of a game-time decision than anything. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him in some type of way in Game 7 after he’s missed the last three games. 

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Photo Credit: Brian Babineau, NBAE, Getty Images