Game 53 Preview: Celtics at Bucks

It's all hands on deck for Gerald Wallace and the Celtics
tonight against Gary Neal and the Bucks.

There's no better way to bounce back from a bad loss than to play the worst team in the NBA.

The Celtics (18-34) have the opportunity to do just that tonight against the NBA's worst team, Milwaukee Bucks (9-41).

Since the start of the new year, Milwaukee is 2-17. They rank in the bottom third of the league in points scored, points allowed and rebounds.

However, this one may not be as easy as one would think. Rajon Rondo will sit out tonight's game, as the team continues to bring him along slowly in his return from a torn ACL. The Celtics are 3-10 on the second night of a back-to-back, and 2-8 when the second game is on the road. Put all that together, and that does not necessarily make for an easy night.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these two teams this season. Boston is 1-2 against Milwaukee thus far.


Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Bucks:
Nate Wolters
Brandon Knight
Khris Middleton
John Henson
Larry Sanders

Keys to the game:

1. SCORE!: After last night's putrid performance, there's no where to go but up for the Celtics' offense. They need to be more efficient. They need to drive to the hoop. They cannot settle for jumpers. They need to get into the paint. They need to get to the free throw line. It won't be easy with tired legs, but the Celtics cannot afford to be embarrassed again offensively, especially against one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

2. Get Chris Johnson involved: Head coach Brad Stevens admitted himself that he thought he should have put Johnson in last night's game a lot sooner than the fourth quarter. Johnson played 5 minutes and 34 seconds of the first quarter, did not play in the second and third quarters, then played 9 minutes and 23 seconds of the fourth quarter. When he played, he made an immediate impact. Johnson did all of his damage in the fourth, scoring all 14 of his points -- he connected on all 4 of his three-point attempts -- in the frame. With Rajon Rondo out and Avery Bradley not looking like his normal self, Johnson needs to be apart of the action early and often.