Is "definitely open" without LeBron

MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo admits that this is not how he envisioned the Milwaukee Bucks season. At the start of the season, Antetokounmpo said that he could not know that his team would qualify for the finals of the Eastern Conference.

The landscape of the Eastern Conference has changed radically in the summer of 2018 when LeBron James, who dominated the East for nearly ten years, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The teams of James Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat have represented the East in the NBA Finals for eight consecutive years. With his move to the West, the East was suddenly a little more open.

"I did not see it open," Antetokounmpo said Thursday. "But now that I'm looking back and everything is going well, it's definitely open, not to have LeBron in the East and not trying to cross it."

The Bucks are one of the teams that could become the new champions of the less-James East. After defeating the Toronto Raptors 108-100 on Wednesday night, Milwaukee maintained a 1-0 lead over the Raptors in the series.

While the Bucks were sailing in the first round against the Detroit Pistons, in the second round against the Boston Celtics and now in the final phase of the Raptors conference, James was not in the forefront.

"But every time you do not have to go through LeBron James, your chances will be improved," said Bucks guard Pat Connaughton.

The Bucks spent Thursday watching a movie in a group. Although they managed to get away late and win the first game, coach Mike Budenholzer made a point of highlighting some of the mistakes the Bucks made in the first three quarters.

Malcolm Brogdon will not be encouraged in the second part. Even though he played two minutes longer than his compatriot Nikola Mirotic, Budenholzer said he was not anticipating Brogdon's departure on Friday.

Antetokounmpo said that after watching the tape, he did not think that a single individual was outstanding in the first match, but as a collective, "we had a great game."

"We are happy," said Antetokounmpo. "But in the end, our work is not over, we have to protect our house, we need to be able to play in the second game."