Ime Udoka takes shot at officials after Celtics Game 3 loss: ‘Gotta teach my guys to flop a little more’

MILWAUKEE — The Celtics had a lot of plays that didn’t go their way in the closing minutes of the Game 3 loss to the Bucks and Ime Udoka wasn’t shy about pointing fingers about it.

The Celtics head coach let loose on what he felt was a missed call by officials that went against Marcus Smart when they elected not to give him a shooting foul in the final five seconds of the game for an apparent 3-point attempt. However, Udoka didn’t stop there after the Game 3 loss, unloading on the fact that plenty of physicality from Giannis Antetokounmpo and other Bucks did not draw enough foul calls.

“Their explanation is, if they don’t fall down, they don’t call it,” Udoka said of potential charge calls. “So gotta teach my guys to flop a little more.”

Antetokounmpo had his way with the Celtics for much of Game 3 scoring 42 points while getting Grant Williams (5 fouls) and Al Horford (4 fouls) in foul trouble at points. However, Antetokounmpo ran over Celtics players on several of those plays, drawing complaints from the players on the floor throughout the contest. Udoka was upset with his team for not playing through what he thought was a tough whistle.

“We obviously pride ourself on that end, to keep playing through things, like we did throughout the game,” Udoka said. “But at times we gave up at least two or three baskets that I noticed we were complaining a little bit to the refs and they’re getting out, getting 3s, Connaughton got one and Portis got one. As much as they’re gonna let you play, we got to play through that and have our composure. If they’re going to call it that way, consistently on both ends, we got to play through it and not bitch about calls and get back.”

Udoka called a timeout at one point in the first quarter after Williams failed to get back in transition after a no-call.

“That play that I called the timeout, he gave up 3, tied game, 13-13, in the first quarter,” Udoka said. “It was one of the ones that stand out, but just a little bit too much. Let me talk to the refs, let them bitch at the refs, and let’s keep playing. We invite that physicality and don’t want to be the team crying about it.”

The Celtics will look to even the series with the Bucks in Game 4 on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

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