Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics Undefeated Since the Trade

Game Recap

A 23-point performance from Celtics captain Paul Pierce would be the difference in a contest that was decided in the game's final minutes.

Pierce added five rebounds, four assists and shot eight of 13 from the floor.

From the opening tip, the Milwaukee Bucks played the better basketball, going up 20-10 to start the game. The Celtics would follow with a 17-6 run to close out the quarter that would have them up one.

Krstic's 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting led the Celtics' late surge.

The next 12 minutes, the momentum was back with point guard Brandon Jennings and the Bucks, as the Bucks would go into the half up 49-43. The first field goal for the Celtics came with 7:01 to play in the half.

The Big Three would score 14 of the team's 16 points in the quarter, with Jennings scoring a game-high 14 in the half.

The second-half featured 10 points from Pierce and key minutes from newly acquired Jeff Green. Green would contribute 11 points, three rebounds and finish five-of-eight shooting in 27 minutes of play.

Jennings and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute were standouts for the Bucks in the contest, combining for 42 points, 16-of-32 shooting and five steals.

Garnett would add 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win, posting his seventh double-double in eight games.

Putting the Win Into Perspective

Since sending starting center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics have been winning basketball games.

In their five games with former Thunder starters Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, the Celtics have gone 5-0. The streak includes three road wins, with their most recent coming last night at Milwaukee.

Although it's early, Danny Ainge's controversial move has seemed to fair well for the Celtics. With Krstic's ability on the offensive end, the Celtics add another dimension they lacked before: a scorer at the center position. 

Since acquiring Green and Krstic, the Celtics have scored at least 100 points in three of their last five games, well above their season average of 98.4 a game.

Undoubtedly, the new dimension to the offense brings holes to the defense, as Krstic lacks the ability to play one-on-one defense in the post against the league's bigger centers. Perkins would consistently alter shots, as his size was a factor for the Celtics defense.

Weighing the pros and cons, Ainge made a gutsy move, but not necessarily the wrong one. The main argument against the trade was that the Celtics would lose aggressiveness inside on the defensive end.

Since the trade, the C's have out-rebounded teams in three of the five games.

As a result, the two new players have also given the Big Three more rest and higher production. Pierce has been given more rest with Green in the lineup and as a result, he is averaging 22.2 points per game and shooting 55 percent from the floor.

Allen has scored at least 22 points in his last three games, posting 21.2 a game after the trade. Garnett has also added to the mix, posting a double-double in four of his last five outings.

With both O'Neals expected to make comebacks in the next couple of weeks, the Celtics expect to eventually add more depth to the frontcourt. Having the two bigs back in the rotation should help soften the hit the Celtics have taken on the defensive end.

The Celtics take on one playoff team in their next four games, with their next game coming against the Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers in TD Garden Wednesday night.

Look for the Celtics to possibly extend the streak to nine with the relatively soft stretch in the next several games.