Celtics’ Rozier making name for himself against the Bucks

MILWAUKEE • Two games into their first-round playoff series, Milwaukee point guard Eric Bledsoe and his Boston counterpart, Terry Rozier, still seem to be having trouble remembering each other’s names.

Maybe it’s the sign of a fes- tering feud with the Celtics up 2-0 as the series shifts to Milwaukee. Perhaps it’s a case of Bluegrass State bragging rights between Bledsoe, who played at Kentucky, and Rozier, who played at Louisville. Or it could be just a case of good-natured gamesmanship.

Through two games, it is advantage Rozier with Game 3 coming up Friday night.

He had 23 points in Game 2 on 8-of-14 shooting, including 3 of 5 from the 3-point line, to match his post-season career scoring high set in Game 1. Rozier is shooting 7 of 16 from beyond the arc so far this series.

So much for the Celtics being at a disadvantage at the point without Kyrie Irving, who is out for the playoffs following knee surgery.

“We’ve talked about his competitiveness, his athleticism and his work ethic being at the highest level. That usually lends to good players improving quickly,” coach Brad Stevens said about Rozier.

Irving’s absence seemed to tilt the point guard match- up toward the Bucks, especially with Bledsoe playing well at the end of the year. Traded from Phoenix earlier in the season, Bledsoe was eager for his first taste of the post-season since 2013, when he was with the Clippers.

Bledsoe is averaging 10.5 points against Boston, but the offence has been plagued in part by turnovers. He fouled out in Game 1.

“My offence will come. I’m not worried about that. I’m just worried about playing great defence and helping my teammates while I’m out there,” Bledsoe said after practice Thursday.

The bulletin-board material between the ball-handlers has become just as engrossing a story line.

“I ain’t got no bad blood with nobody,” Rozier said in Boston. “I’m not caught up in that. I’m worried about Celtics and Bucks and how can I help my team get past the first round.”