Two games into their first-round playoff series
http://www.officialcanadiensprostore.com/authentic-adidas-karl-alzner-jersey , 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 festering 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, though they never faced each other in college.
Or it could be just a case of good-natured gamesmanship between two competitors.
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 postseason 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 Youth Ryan Shazier Jersey ," coach Brad Stevens said about Rozier.
Irving's absence seemed to tilt the point guard matchup 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 postseason since 2013, when he was with the Clippers.
Bledsoe is averaging 10.5 points against Boston, but the offense has been plagued in part by turnovers. He fouled out in Game 1.
"My offense will come. I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried about playing great defense 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."
Except that Rozier may have triggered this made-for-social media spat by calling the Bucks guard "Drew Bledsoe" after Game 1 on Sunday. Drew Bledsoe is the former quarterback of the New England Patriots.
"Yeah I made a huge mistake," Rozier said with a chuckle. "But it is what it is now."
After Game 2 on Tuesday, Bledsoe was asked about Rozier.
"Who? I don't even know who that is," Bledsoe responded, adding an expletive.
Bledsoe struck a similar tone after practice on Thursday. When asked about Rozier by name, Bledsoe responded: "Who?"
"I'm focused on this series Brandon Manning Jersey , man, between Milwaukee and Boston right now. I'm just trying to help the team win," Bledsoe said. "That's what point guards do."
Playing in front of a home crowd might help get the Bucks going. This is the last postseason for the franchise in the Bradley Center, with a new arena next door scheduled to open the in the fall.
Bucks coach Joe Prunty said he hadn't spoken to Bledsoe about his comments.
"I think there's a lot of talking that takes place," he added. "What I'm more concerned about is what we do on the basketball court and how we play."
Now it's time for Rozier to show if he can be just as effective in the playoffs on the road.
"Down 0-2, going back to their place where you know they're going to come out aggressive," Rozier said. "We're coming out, we're still going to be aggressive and we're coming in to win."
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AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Boston contributed to this story.
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More NBA basketball: To get back to the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers' defense needs to improve against the pass.
Adding three tall receivers to the offense for quarterback Aaron Rodgers can't hurt either.
The two-time NFL MVP got help in the passing game on the third day of the NFL draft after the Packers prioritized pass defense in the early rounds.
They took Louisville's Jaire Alexander in the first round and Iowa's Josh Jackson, who led the nation with eight interceptions last year, in the second.
"Their ball skills are exceptional," coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday. "I think they're a great fit to how we want to play defense."
Pass defense was a problem again for a team that finished 7-9 last season. The Packers didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
The setback set up an offseason of change. Longtime executive Brian Gutekunst was promoted to general manager to succeed the retired Ted Thompson in January. McCarthy overhauled the coaching staff Mattias Janmark Jersey , including the hiring of Mike Pettine to replace Dom Capers as defensive coordinator.
Cornerback was the top priority. Besides drafting Alexander and Jackson, the Packers brought Tramon Williams back as a free agent to add another presence in the secondary.
"With the competition in the cornerback room, and the defensive back room, it's vastly improved," McCarthy said.
The focus shifted to offense for the late rounds on Saturday. The passing attack slipped to 25th in the league last season after Rodgers was limited to seven games because of a broken collarbone.
Gutekunst drafted three wideouts, starting with Missouri's J'Mon Moore in the fourth round. The 6-foot-3 senior had team highs of 65 catches and 1,082 yards last season.
Opportunities abound in the receiving group behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb after veteran Jordy Nelson was cut in the offseason.
Other highlights from the Packers' draft class:
CATCHING ON: Besides Moore, the Packers also took two 6-5 receivers in South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round and Notre Dame's Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth round. Valdes-Scantling offers an intriguing blend of size and speed after he ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine at 4.37 seconds. Brown played with Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer for two seasons at Notre Dame.
CREATING COMPETION: By taking three receivers, the Packers stockpiled prospects to fill depth at a skill position for a second straight year. The strategy worked at running back in 2017, when fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams and fifth-rounder Aaron Jones emerged as solid contributors.
"You hope the guys embrace it and are pros about it and try to get better," scout Matt Malaspina said. "The whole group gets better as each guy gets better."
THAT'S SPECIAL: There might be competition at punter, too William Nylander Jersey , after the Packers drafted JK Scott from Alabama. Scott had just five punts returned as a senior, crediting the success to a renewed focus on hang time. Last year's punter, Justin Vogel, was seventh in the NFL in net punting average at 41.6 yards.
Green Bay also took a long snapper with the second of their three seventh-round picks in Mississippi State's Hunter Bradley.
LATE PICKS: The selection of offensive lineman Cole Madison from Washington State in the fifth round addressed another position of need. The 6-5 Madison played tackle in college. But the Packers like his versatility and plan to use him at guard. Green Bay has questions on the right side of the line.
Green Bay returned to defense with its two other seventh-round picks, selecting end James Looney from California and edge rusher Kendall Donnerson from Southeast Missouri State.
STILL NEED: Unless Looney or Donnerson prove to be late steals, the Packers will still need help in the pass rush. Clay Matthews turns 32 this year, while Nick Perry was limited to 12 games last season because of injuries. They could use more production out of third-year backup Kyler Fackrell. Vince Biegel should start the season healthy after missing the first seven games of his rookie season with a foot injury.
"The biggest gains that we've always made have been our returning players," McCarthy said.
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