On Sunday, the Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 109-81, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The score does not indicate how close the game was at TD Garden, but the hot takes were flying after the contest.
It seems like this Game 7 will go down in the annals of Celtics history as the “Grant Williams Game,” according to this fan:
Hope you enjoyed the Grant Williams game. 7-18 3pt range. #BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/2uSUoYmOO2
— Jack of all trades 🏁 (@The_Reason11) May 16, 2022
Williams scored a game-high 27 points on 10-for-22 shooting and 7-for-18 shooting from 3-point land.
He had a game-high plus/minus of +25 as well.
The Bucks left him open throughout the game, including the first offensive possession for Boston.
Williams made seven shots from deep while the Bucks as a team made just four on Sunday.
The Greek Freak’s Difficult Second Half
Meanwhile, it was a tough second half for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo:
Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second half of a win or go game Game 7:
8 Points
25% FG (4/16)
0% 3PT (0/2)
2 TurnoversIf this was ANY other superstar, you wouldn't hear the end of the slander from this CHOKEJOB. pic.twitter.com/mCm3F4cXlM
— 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 🔥 (@FlamesNBA21) May 15, 2022
To add insult to injury, Antetokounmpo had a plus/minus of -19 in the second half.
That tied Jrue Holiday for the worst second-half plus/minus in the contest.
Now, the phrase “choke job” may be a little harsh since the Bucks made it to Game 7 and were underdogs.
They were also without Khris Middleton for the entire series.
It was not a good second half for Antetokounmpo, but he went for 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists in the contest.
The “others” — as Shaquille O’Neal would say — just were not there for Antetokounmpo in the game.
He forced some shots in the second half, and they did not fall.
Antetokounmpo is just 27 years old and will not turn 28 until December.
The future is bright for him, and the league.
The 2022 Celtics’ Impressive Playoff Run
With the Celtics defeating the Nets and Bucks, they have been looking very strong.
Although they were forced to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they are a very likable team:
Gotta love this team https://t.co/LdYO0wZ0Kk
— aidan heim (@aidanheim1) May 16, 2022
Many fans were wondering if the winner of the series between the Celtics and Bucks would end up winning the championship.
Boston and Milwaukee had two of the best teams in the playoffs, and they were both going to be strong competitors in a series with the Miami Heat.
This fan sees the Celtics winning their first championship since 2008:
Celtics winning it all.
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) May 16, 2022
The Celtics are favored in their series against the No. 1 seed Heat, as Boston looks for its first NBA Finals appearance since 2010.
In both 2008 and 2010, Boston and its big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen faced the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 2008, the Celtics won their first championship in 22 years.
They are looking for the same magic this season.
In the second half of the season, Boston was by far the best team in the NBA.
With Robert Williams III getting healthier, the Celtics could be back to full strength in the conference finals.
It sure will be a fun series, and it begins on Tuesday.
The NBA’s Game 7s Did Not Have Close Finishes
Some NBA fans were hoping for closer finishes on Sunday:
But this was the game 7 intensity that I was expecting today 😅 @NBA #DALvsPHS #MILvsBOS pic.twitter.com/uoNRndwKcB
— V E N R I C K (@vsnapshot) May 16, 2022
The Kawhi Leonard shot to win Game 7 of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals raised the bar for Game 7s in this round.
Unfortunately, neither of the Game 7s in 2022 had this type of finish.
The hope is that the conference finals can provide Game 7 excitement.
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