2017 NBA Playoffs: Bucks versus Raptors

Tucker and Ibaka give Toronto a huge upgrade on defense and I think that's exactly what was missing last year on an already very good team. 

Their record doesn't blow you away but I think it's deceiving due to Lowry missing 20 games or so. 

Bucks going to have to play inspired basketball to be competitive in this series.  

Good first q, but as soon as Teletovic sees the floor they go on a massive run. 2 wide open 3s- clang. Gives up an and-1, gets beat to a rebound... 

Middleton completely useless today...

No shot making... allowed them to get some transition baskets and take the lead into the half. Lowry ineffective really, but Ibaka and Derozen combine for 32 of their 51. 

You have to wonder WTF the Thunder have been doing to deal a guy like Ibaka.  He's a really good overall player in the league and is killing the Bucks right now. 

Hard to imagine OKC had Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Harden at the same time. 

Bucks are in this one but someone other than Giannis needs to step up. 

Snell having an awful game 

Maker!!!!!

Carroll is a pussy 

He cannot defend Giannis 

How good is Brogdon 

Right there with them. 

Who's gonna finish. 

Brogdon, Maker, and Giannis 18-26 FG

Rest of team 8-30

Maker defends the rim like you are looking for. He's changing the game. 

The problem is offensively they cannot execute. They should be hitting p&r over and over with Maker- Valenciunis cannot stay with him. 

****ing bull**** calls 

Toronto just out of control driving to the hoop getting the calls 

I said it before- 30th in assists... they are a one on one basketball team. 

Bucks size is really impacting Toronto 

Up 5 need to finish these ****ers 

Would be nice to see Middleton get untracked. 

BTW, i can see why Bucks fans dont like Gus Johnson....terrible. 

Monroe a difference maker- great defense in the p&r, great offensive rebounding, good on the D boards.

Bucks are out hustling them in the second half. 

Monroe in full beast mode 

Carroll is getting absolutely destroyed on D 

Lowry cannot make a shot right now 

Giannis **** yeah 

the ass kicking is on 

**** you refs that's a technical foul eat schit 

This game looks so much better when a team plays defense.

Fear the DEER !!

Toronto coming apart 

Nice Win !

Bucks length really disrupted the Raps 

Toronto looked intimidated from the start **** those posers 

Man,, I didn't have access to the game.

Your posts have all been a joy to read.

Thanks!!

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.  

Dude... his foot is on the freakin' ground...

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.

hope they can keep this core together.....looking good.

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 NBA rescinded Giannis' "T" in the closing moments, and right they should. I have no clue what that call was made for...

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. 

And Toronto is already laying the groundwork for the free throw bonanza coming for them tomorrow night:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/...attention/100561334/

“All people set illegal screens in the NBA. ... I mean big men are always kind of setting it wide. That’s just how it is.”
- Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova

Bucks survived the Toronto punch, only down 3 at the half despite being down in FTs (13-8) and 3s (8-6). 7 turnovers, as well. Bucks pounding them on the glass and shooting 54%. 

Toronto shooting the lights out but the Bucks hanging around