Eastern Conference Finals – Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors
The Bucks get hosting rights in their blockbuster East Finals matchup with the Raptors.
Despite dropping Game 1, Milwaukee blew past the Celtics in the remaining four games of their series, with all but one result decided by double digits. This Bucks team might not have gotten enough respect throughout the season but will command it if they can flex their muscles against the Raptors.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be the driving force of this team and has played at a phenomenal level during the post-season. The Greek Freak is averaging 27.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game during the playoffs while shooting 52 per cent from the field.
The beauty of Giannis is his ability to play at both ends of the floor and his fans will tell you that’s why he deserves the season MVP honours over James Harden. It’s hard to see the Bucks losing this series if they get another big campaign from their star forward.
While Milwaukee’s critics will say they down have enough talent next to Giannis, their spread of play is also a great strength of theirs. Some nights Khris Middleton will pop off for 25 plus points, other nights Brook Lopez strokes from three-point land. Then Eric Bledsoe, Nikola Mirotic, Malcolm Brogdon and recently George Hill can all take over games.
This team is seriously deep and with guys like Pat Connaughton and Sterling Brown rounding out their rotation, they are all just as valuable at both ends of the floor.
They face a Raptors team that is largely being carried by Kawhi Leonard. Nick Nurse’s team only just got past Philly in Game 7 behind Leonard’s buzzer-beater heroics. It capped off a massive series for Leonard where he averaged 34.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
However, outside of Pascal Siakam, Toronto probably haven’t quite got enough production from their other stars. Kyle Lowry is only shooting the ball at a 41 per cent clip over the post-season and Marc Gasol looks a shadow of what he was in Memphis in his seventh playoffs campaign.
The Raptors bat much thinner than the Bucks, therefore need Lowry and Gasol to perform to the All-Star level that they have in the past. Danny Green and Serge Ibaka aren’t shooting the ball particularly well either, but this could be more of a product of the fact that they came up against a lengthy Sixers defence.
Toronto know what they’re going to get from Leonard, but need their other stars to shine against a Bucks team that finished with the best regular season record led by arguably the most dominant player in the game today.
The Bucks won the season series against Toronto 3-1.
Prediction: Milwaukee to win Game 1 @ $1.38, win series 4-3.
