Tomorrow the Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Toronto Raptors. This is the first time that these two teams will meet in the NBA Playoffs. It should be a compelling matchup between an elite Eastern Conference team, in the Toronto Raptors and an upcoming team in the Bucks.
Bucks
Depth
The Bucks have been flying under the radar the whole season. The only reason why this team has been getting mainstream attention all season is because of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is the first player to lead his team in every statistical category 22.9 PPG 5.4 APG 8.8 RPG, 1,6 SPG and 1.9 BPG.
The Bucks have another talent other than Antetokounmpo such as Greg Monroe has averaged 11.7 PPG 6.6 RPG, Khris Middleton has averaged 14.7 PPG 3.4 APG 4.2 RPG Malcolm Brogdon has averaged 10 PPG 4.2 APG 2.8 RPG. There are other players that will be crucial for the Bucks to have success such as Michael Beasley, Matthew Dellavedova, Tony Snell, and Mirza Teletovic.
Raptors
Pick your poison when you’re dealing with the Raptors because they are nine to ten players deep. DeMar DeRozan this year stepped his game to a whole new level. He averaged 27.3 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 5.2 RPG. If Westbrook and Harden did not have historic years DeMar would be in the MVP discussion.
The Raptors will only go as far Kyle Lowry takes them he averaged 22.4 PPG, 7.0 APG, 4.8 RPG. Jonas Valanciunas should have a clear advantage on Greg Monroe even though he struggled against Monroe in the past. Valanciunas has averaged a double-double throughout the season 12 PPG and 9.5 RPG. Other key contributors that will have an impact on this series is Corey Joesph, Norman Powell, Patrick Patterson and DeMarre Carroll.
More weapons
The Raptors decided to shake things up when they acquired Serge Ibaka for Terrance Ross to the Orlando Magic for a 2017 first-round pick. Ibaka has put up career high numbers 14.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG 1.6 BPG.
Masai Ujiri worked his magic and he traded power forward Jared Sullinger, and two second-round draft picks to the Phoenix Suns for P.J. Tucker. Tucker doesn’t have impressive numbers, 6.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG but he locks down anybody he is guarding.Tucker is known to hit timely three-pointers in the corners.
Stats
Every Raptors fan began to panic when Lowry suffered a wrist injury during the All-Star break. As a result, Lowry had to have surgery done on his wrist. It was a blessing in disguise because the Raptors went 14-7 prior to Lowry return against the Pistons. Toronto was tied for the second-best record in the NBA since Feb. 24 they went 18-7 during that span.
Khris Middleton has been a bright spot for the Bucks. Middleton returned from torn hamstring injury back in February. He was out for the first three months of the season; Milwaukee was in 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with a 22–28 record at the time.
The Bucks have found recently momentum they went 18–10 down the stretch to the fifth spot but they have dropped one spot below. In March, they were one of the hottest teams going 14–4. Middleton stepped up his game after the Bucks lost Jabari Parker for the season with a torn ACL injury.
Conclusion
The Bucks are not an easy team to handle because of their matchups. The Raptors should make quick work of the Bucks in five games due to their versatility.
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Photo’s courtesy of Business Insider, Basketball Insiders, HoopsHype, The Star, Raptors Republic, Raptors Rapture, Sporting News, CBC
