Celtics-Bucks Matchups

If there’s one reality that’s kept the Celtics grounded this season, it’s their lack of collective health.

But if there’s an appropriate rallying cry as the men in green begin their playoff trek today against Milwaukee, it’s the diminished expectations nationally as a result of who’s no longer in the lineup.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to boost a lot of guys and all that, but we don’t really have to prove nothing,” said Terry Rozier. “We just have to play Celtics basketball and prove to ourselves who we are. We’re not trying to answer nobody or none of that. I know I’m not worried about that. I don’t watch TV.”

The Celtics have actually forged a strong identity despite the absence of most of their stars, with Kyrie Irving’s loss to knee surgery stripping the team of its closer. When Rozier and Marcus Morris have scored down the stretch, the offense has flowed. Al Horford’s scoring is more a bonus than a given. The young guys, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have a chance to open eyes on a bigger national stage.

But as Brad Stevens has stressed all along, the offense — and droughts — will come and go on this team. The defense, for now lacking the tone-setting presence of Marcus Smart, can’t waver. If it does, the Celtics are going to live down to those national projections.

First up is a Milwaukee team with the NBA’s most unique player and matchup problem — Giannis Antetokounmpo. What follows is a position-by-position breakdown of the series.

Keep in mind that the NBA, and especially on a team like the one coached by Stevens, the definition of positions becomes fuzzier by the year. The Celtics coach prefers to refer to his players as bigs, wings, swings and playmakers. Anyone, in a pinch, ends up running the offense. Anyone, or at least most, can switch on defense.

It’s how the Celtics survived all of those injuries this season, and it’s how they will attack the Bucks starting today.