Game 17 Preview: Celtics at Bucks

Jeff Green will have to carry his aggressiveness from last night into
tonight's game in Milwaukee.

For the second time in three weeks, the Celtics (9-7) will play the second night of a back-to-back in Milwaukee against the Bucks (7-7).

Both teams played last night, as Boston cruised to an 18-point victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. On the other hand, the Bucks lost by 10 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 95-85. Fatigue will be a factor for both teams, so it shouldn't be an excuse. 

Projected lineups:

Celtics: 

Jason Terry 

Courtney Lee

Paul Pierce

Brandon Bass

Kevin Garnett

Bucks:

Brandon Jennings

Monta Ellis

Tobias Harris

John Henson

Samuel Dalembert

Keys to the game:

1. Guard play: The Celtics' guards survived one night without Rajon Rondo. Now they have to do it again. In a way, playing tonight is a blessing in disguise. Rondo's suspension will be over after tonight, and the team can move on and continue to improve. If there were some time between this two game hiatus without Rondo, then that would just be a major block in the road. Any way, the guards need to duplicate their performance from last night. Tonight will be tougher, as Milwaukee's backcourt is one of the best in the league. Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis are going to be aggressive, so the guards need to be on their toes and ready to go again without their floor general.

2. It's Jeff Green's world, and we're just living it: Congratulations, Jeff Green, you had an exceptional job last night. But here's the bad news: you have to do it again, tonight. It shouldn't be that difficult. John Henson and Larry Sanders will be clogging up the paint for sure, but other than that, Jeff Green should have his way, if, that's if, he remains aggressive. He's averaged 11.5 points in the two games against Milwaukee this year. He needs to do at least that and bring that trademark defense of his in order for the Celtics to win this game.

3. No excuses, play like a champion: The latter is something this team has still yet to figure out, but for those of you who get the reference, give yourselves a pat on the back. As far as the former is concerned, there are no excuses in a game like this. You just have to chalk it up to this: it's the daily grind of the NBA life. As Kevin Garnett has been famous for saying throughout his years, "It's what it is." Both teams are tired. So what. The Celtics don't have to play again until Wednesday, so they can afford to extend minutes and leave it all on the floor. Why such an emphasis on tonight? Well it's a big game. Wednesday night was a huge smack in the face to this team. Their coach called them out, and that bothered the Celtics. They proved him wrong last night, but this wasn't a one game schpeel. This was about their mentality for the rest of the season, and it continues tonight. They took a big step last night, now they need to build on that.