Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks 4/7/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Matchup Preview (4/7/22)

Despite the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks securing playoff spots and only having a few games left in the regular season, this game matters. The Celtics and Bucks are neck-and-neck for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, along with the Philadelphia 76ers, and every game is of the utmost importance in terms of playoff implications. The difference between the playoff road a No. 2 seed takes versus a No. 4 seed may not seem like much; however, having home-court advantage and not playing a team that finished better than you in the regular season until the Eastern Conference Finals absolutely matters. All three of those teams are at 49-30 as of early Wednesday evening, and it is clear that neither Boston nor Milwaukee is scared of securing a higher seed with the chance of playing the Brooklyn Nets, should they advance through the play-in games, in the first round. We should see an incredibly competitive matchup in what could eventually be a playoff series in a few weeks. Take a look at each team’s analysis, the betting odds for my best bets, and which team I am picking to grab a crucial win before the playoffs!

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Odds

There is little doubt that the loss of Robert Williams will negatively impact the C’s in future games. Williams has been the interior anchor for this Celtics defense all season long, and he is not easily replaceable. Recently, there were even conversations around why he could have been a DPOY candidate before his injury!

Still, Boston is a fantastic team on both ends of the floor and should not be taken lightly by the Bucks. It is hard to fathom the Celtics being nearly six-point dogs, even though the game is on the road, and they will be without Williams. The Bucks have struggled defensively, and I think they could get down on themselves if Boston holds them to modest shooting, which could in turn impact their defense. I’ll take Boston to cover this spread; Milwaukee is not unbeatable with its below-average perimeter defense.

How To Watch

Date: 4/7/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, WI
Channel: TNT

Live Stream Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game

You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.

Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Daniel Theis

Boston Celtics Analysis

What an unbelievable second half of the season from the Boston Celtics. Little more can be said of the Celtics that has not already been said, but their ability to buy in and trust each other, especially after a rocky start to the 2021-22 NBA season, is uncanny. Scarcely have we seen a team decide mid-season that they have to change and do precisely that for a substantial period. This “decision” seemed to take place in mid-January, right after an embarrassing loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, who were without Damian Lillard. Since then, the Celtics have a 105.8 defensive rating, which is 3.5 points lower (better) than the next closest team in the NBA. Additionally, they have had an offensive rating of 121.4, which is one point higher than the Timberwolves and the best in the league. Boston is a serious championship contender this season, even though many people are overlooking it.

Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup

PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Brook Lopez

Milwaukee Bucks Analysis

Milwaukee has found a great time to play some of its best basketball. Milwaukee boasts a 12-5 record in March but has recently lost a few tough ones that could have made its record even better. Last weekend, the Bucks lost back-to-back games to the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks, unfortunately. However, they were able to bounce back with a massive win against the Chicago Bulls, who cannot beat any top-tier team in the NBA. Milwaukee is sixth in offensive rating this month, but there is a deficiency on the other end of the floor. The Bucks rank in the bottom half of the NBA in defensive rating during that stretch, with their most significant issue being defensive consistency and covering the three-point line. Returning Brook Lopez to the lineup has been tremendous, especially in the interior on the defensive end; however, Lopez will not fix their perimeter defense issues. Jrue Holiday is one of the premier on-ball defenders in the NBA, but it will take a total team effort from the other guards if they want to make another championship run.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Daily Fantasy Picks

If you cannot afford Giannis Antetokounmpo for your DFS lineup, consider choosing Brook Lopez to plug in there. Lopez has an incredibly favorable matchup against either Al Horford or Daniel Theis, who are three or four inches shorter. He can do plenty of work on the inside early and then work his way outside as the game continues! In his past four games, Lopez has posted averages of 16 points, four rebounds, one steal, and one block on a 48/35/92 shooting split. In his most recent game, Lopez went berzerk too, scoring 28 points, pulling down seven rebounds, blocking three shots, and swiping two steals. That is quite an active game for the big man! It will be more challenging to do that against a defense like the Boston Celtics. Still, I guess that they will focus their attention primarily on stopping Giannis and Khris Middleton, which could, in turn, create open opportunities for Lopez. Give him a look in DFS if you have not already.

The Boston Celtics continue to spread their offensive output very well, which can be frustrating for DFS purposes. Last game, Tatum secured ten rebounds and dished out eight assists but merely finished with 16 points. He posted 31 points on a big scoring night two games before that. It can be hard to tell who will have a massive game for the C’s, and that is how they like it. It’s tough for opponents to know who will pop off on any night, which makes their offense that much stronger. I will likely stay away from Boston players in this matchup but may give Derrick White a look.