NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Picture:
Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks
As my colleagues at theocho.ca like to remind me, I am a bit of a homer when it comes to my favourite teams.
In this case, my love of the Raptors will be rewarded as they make succinct work of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Last year’s playoffs serve as a strong reminder; the Raps are not a team to take lightly in the post-season. They pushed Cleveland to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and last I checked, the Milwaukee Bucks are not the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Let’s look at some of facts leading into this first-round matchup.
1.DeMar DeRozan is coming off a career season. With the injury to Kyle Lowry before the all-star break, he was forced to put his team on his back. Down the stretch, he crushed opposing defences, wrapping up the best single season ever produced by a Raptor.
2.Kyle Lowry made his return in dramatic fashion. During his first game back, he put up 27 points and singlehandedly (quite literally) brought the Raptors back from 20 points down, securing a crucial victory for playoff seeding.
3.Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker have (in my opinion) put the Raptors over the edge in terms of being a power in the NBA. Toronto didn’t have defensive stopping power last year, but with Ibaka and Tucker, the paint is not a place the Bucks are going to want to go for points.
4.The Bucks have been riding the career season of Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo, but he is young and untested in the post-season. With Jabari Parker falling to another knee injury mid-way through the season, the Bucks don’t have enough gas left in the tank to compete with the Raptors at the ACC.
The Raptors took the season series against the Bucks 2 -1, with both Raptor victories being one-sided. For the Bucks to be victorious in this series, DeRozan and Lowry would have to both drop dead of the flu.
The Bucks will take a couple of games from the Raptors before falling. Neither of those victories will come in Toronto at the ACC. DeRozan will average at least 30, and look for Jonas Valančiūnas to put on an impressive display as he did last year before succumbing to an ankle injury. Look for Giannis to be Giannis. The 6’10” swingman is nearly impossible to guard in a one-on-one situation, but without help his efforts will be nothing more than an impressive personal display.
Playoff basketball is not the regular season. Don’t expect the Raptors to blow the Bucks out of the water. These will be close games during the first three quarters until the Raptors take control and put the game out of reach in the fourth.
Prediction: Toronto in 6
Alex Scantlebury is a multi-sport contributor for theocho.ca. He is a professor for the Algonquin College public relations program. Aaron and Riley would like to thank him for giving them an extra hour each week to spend on Bleacher Report while he was teaching. Follow Alex on Twitter at@pen_ink_page.
