NBA playoffs on May 6: Bucks are one win from Conference Finals

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The Milwaukee Bucks conquered the TD Garden again on Monday by beating the Boston Celtics 113-101, leading 3-1 in the series. If the Bucks win Game 5 at home on Wednesday, they will be the first team making the Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets continued their good momentum at home by defeating the Golden State Warriors 112-108 at the Toyota Center, tying the series 2-2.

Bucks vs. Celtics, low offense efficiency becomes Boston's poison

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots in the game they lose to the Milwaukee Bucks 113-101 at the TD Garden, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

This was a game that Boston could not afford to lose unless they wanted to go to Milwaukee to play two "win or go home" games. However, being willing to win and being able to win are two different things, especially when Boston had to rely on unstable perimeter shots as their major weapon in offense.

In fact, the Bucks did not play as well as they did in the last two games, especially in the first half when they only buried five three-pointers and earned eight free throws. However, having done so well in defense, the Celtics only led by two points (49-47) in the first half, all thanks to their disappointing offense.

George Hill (R) of the Bucks handles the ball in the game against the Celtics, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Boston missed their biggest opportunity of winning Game 4 in the third quarter when Milwaukee had to put both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton on the bench because of foul trouble. However, with their complete lineup taking on the opponent that did not have their top 2 players, Boston saw a 59-59 tie become trailing of 80-72 in seven minutes.

How did this happen? In defense, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer had his players remain inside the 3-pt line to obstruct the perimeter shots of the Celtics and stop them from crossing the free throw line with their size and long limbs, the Bucks were totally capable of accomplishing the two tasks. In offense, they tried their best to turn every position into fast break which did not leave the Celtics much time to set up defense.

When Antetokounmpo and Middleton came back in the fourth quarter, they simply reaped the game for Milwaukee as they did in the past two games.

Eric Bledsoe #6 and Pat Connaughton #24 of the Bucks defend Kyrie Irving #11 of the Celtics in the game, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Why was Boston unable to respond – or specifically, what happened to Kyrie Irving who was seen by many as "Mr. Big Heart"? Well, Monday's game was already the third straight brick performance Irving had in this series. It's true that he tried to create scoring chances for his teammates but what the team needed most from him was for him to carry on the offense, just like he did in the 2016 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Irving's underperformance had a lot to do with his physical condition. Though he is a historic ball handler and has top isolation techniques of the league, Irving is still a small guard who is only 1.91 meters tall, weighing 88 kilograms. Without monstrous physical talent, Irving has to do most of his offensive moves while dodging defense. Milwaukee do not have the best defenders of the league, but they have the best weapon, long arms, better height and quick feet, to take care of Irving.

Warriors vs. Rockets, Houston gain initiative of the series

James Harden #13, Chris Paul #3 and Mike D'Antoni of the Houston Rockets in the locker room after the game they win against the Golden State Warriors 112-108 at the Toyota Center, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Though they only lost by four points, Golden State just played the worst game in the Western Conference semifinals. They forgot what they did right to win the initial 2-0 lead-chasing offensive rebounds and cutting Houston's connections in offense; they forgot what their signature offense looked like – instead of give-and-go play, GSW relied on an isolation play, even more than Houston.

The consequences were evident: the Warriors only made seven three-pointers with a 3-pt rare of 24.24 percent in the whole game; they only scored 54 points in the first half; Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson together missed 15 of 20 three-pointers.

James Harden #13 of the Rockets shoots a three-pointer in the game against the Warriors, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Golden State's defense was even worse than their offense. They watched Houston again drop 17 three-pointers; they could not stop Harden from putting down 38 points and 10 rebounds; though Houston fell into scoring drought in the last two minutes, Golden State watched them grab two offensive rebounds by two guards, Harden and Chris Paul.

Compared with the Warriors, the Rockets kept the game under control from the beginning. Each of their penetration would draw attention from at least two Warriors players, thus leading to open shots outside. In most 50-50 loose balls, the Rockets managed to take the possession by working harder and smarter. They did not win in every position but they made sure that every position they owned mattered the most.

Klay Thompson of the Warriors handles the ball in the game against the Rockets, May 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Though the Warriors still sounded optimistic enough in the postgame press conference by denying that the essential Game 5 is the end of the world, things are not looking good for them and they know it. The team are falling apart in offense: Kevin Durant is their only reliable option; the team have to count on Draymond Green to score in the last few minutes of Monday's game; both Curry and Thompson have become deadweight on the court. In defense, the Warriors can neither stop Harden nor his teammates to gain what they want. If they lose again in Game 5 at home, this series will be over in advance.