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The Bucks come into Saturday's game a significant underdog in this series. Some are picking Toronto to come out of the Eastern Conference. The additions of Ibaka and Tucker gave them the ability to go small ball and still be able to protect the rim. 

Kyle Lowry is back- which is critical for Toronto. They're athletic, and the check many of the boxes to a contender. 10th in scoring, 8th in scoring D. They're one of the best in forcing turnovers (almost 15/game), and they're committing the 4th fewest turnovers. 

Interesting stat- they are 30th in assists. Lots of one on one, ISO basketball. 

5 keys to me: 

1) Will Lowry come back and play well? 

2) Can they defend the 3? 

3) Can they make shots (particularly 3s)

4) will they rebound? 

5) will Kris Middleton score?

Should be fun. I think they have a chance, bit it'll take a big effort to pull it off. 

Last edited by Music City
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Just saw a youtube of first half highlights.

Main thing I came away with is when Giannis has a jam, he takes it.  That is actually HUGE.

Also, if Monroe plays decent D, that is huge as well.  His rap has always been defense.  If he plays solid defense at center, Bucks go from a player wanting to deal to a good player at a coveted position.

And Brogdon.  Everyone on cbsports had him for ROY.  

I just watched some postgame interviews (Giannis, Brogdon, Monroe, Maker, Kidd).

The players seem like the kind you want.  Giannis definitely has a good head on his shoulders.  Brogdon as well.  (Didn't realize until I just looked it up that he played under Bennett at Virginia and was ACC PoY and defensive player of year.)

Looks like Maker already has a solid defensive game, huh?

Especially if consider what if Parker makes it back OK, this team even looks loaded to me.

I have a lot of optimism for the Bucks.

There were some things I noticed: 

1) they tried to rough Giannis up. Crowder was really hammering him early, but the kid is too athletic. He gets away from you with those strides and he finishes everything at the rim. But my guess is it is going to get worse. 

2) Middleton is hopefully coming around. He was completely lost until the 4th quarter... then you saw him elevate his game. The Bucks won this game with Middleton shooting 4/15. And he was passing up shots at one point- if he gets his mojo back look out. 

3) The Raptors were 30th in assists for a reason. Derozen attacked the paint with success, but it meant that the others were stagnant. Basketball is a rhythm game, and if one guy is doing all the shooting, it takes them out of rhythm. If the Raptors think that Lowry/Derozen are going to be able to attack the paint all series and have it be enough, they're mistaken. 

4) Thon Maker is blossoming before our eyes. His length counters the driving that Lowry and Derozen do, because he can elevate and get there so quickly. He truly is lightning quick, especially for his size. I'll bet you dollar to doughnuts they try to get him in foul trouble early with Valenciunis. Curious that we did not see John Henson yesterday...

5) Greg Monroe is a completely different player since the midpoint of the season. His play in the p&r has been stellar. He has great feet, and even though he's not a particularly good athlete, he's really become disruptive with hedging the pick and then either executing the double with active hands or getting back to his man- and that all footwork. The Bucks are not allowing Toronto to dictate the matchups because they are not switching- and Toronto really struggled to counter this because they weren't getting the quick plays to the paint like they expected they would. If this is a snapshot of what is to come defensively for this team, whether it's Monroe or a stronger Maker, they could become an elite team. And again... no Henson. Interesting...

5) Lowry just was not ready for playoff basketball. I suspect he'll rise to the occasion at some point, but will it be too late? The Bucks' size and physicality at PG has thrown him off- when normally it would be a steady diet of plays in the paint, and wide open 3s or free throws that we have seen Toronto do so often to Milwaukee. Then step back 3s. The overall length is better, and they're no longer able to pick on a matchup like they did before, but rest assured we're going to see Lowry at the free throw line a lot. The Bucks have to try to avoid the fouls, and still make plays on the ball in the paint like they did yesterday. 

I still think the series is going 7. Toronto is going to try to get to the line even more. If IBaka is hobbled by the ankle, it helps the Bucks, but any time a team gets kicked in the teeth like Toronto did yesterday, they attack and put the game in the hands of the officials. If the Bucks keep playing the active defense we are seeing and get hot from 3 they can come back to Milwaukee 2-0. 

I fully expect a do or die effort from Toronto in game 2 because if they go down 0-2 this series is over.  

I expect more of the same from the Raptors in that they will try to drive to the hoop and either get fouled or kick it out to the perimeter for a 3pt look.  Toronto is better team than they showed yesterday but it's huge the Bucks took game 1.  

The refs are probably the same ones that cost us that series win against Indiana back in 2000....trying to find something they could call to disrupt the momentum of the Bucks and help the opponent. 

I still remember the ridiculous Technical on Darvin Ham for hanging on the rim against the Pacers in the playoffs?  I think it was late  n the game and the momentum was in our favor.  Then, if we breathed on Reggie Miller, we would get a foul.  Maybe the refs had money on that game, too?  

Nothing surprises me anymore. 

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