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Phew.
Now that the good people of Toronto have had a second time to breathe after Kawhi Leonard beat the buzzer and the 76ers on Sunday night – much to the chagrin of fans already reluctant in Philadelphia – it's time to turn to what's safe to say. 39, be another heavyweight series. The exhausted Raptors must muster the energy needed to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the final phase of the Eastern Conference, starting Wednesday night.
The Bucks, who have the advantage of the field, will play their first game since they easily sent the Boston Celtics to the semifinal last Wednesday, while the Raptors will try to change gears after a playoff game which will proceed as planned. one of the biggest in the NBA history.
In their last series, the Raptors dealt with a team of Sixers playing a slower and more deliberate game, thanks to the style of the center Joel Embiid, who often plays back the basket in the low post. And Toronto had the perfect antidote to Embiid: Marc Gasol, an imposing man who thrives after the defense. In the first round, the Raptors played against the Orlando Magic, one of the slowest offenses in the league.
But Milwaukee, with his step-by-step offensive, is the incarnation of the N.B.A. The Bucks play much faster and Toronto will face one of the best players in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will try to limit his combinations eurosteps to slam-dunk.
Gasol could find Antetokounmpo spin around him if he does not pursue Brook Lopez on the 3-point line. But it turns out that the Raptors have Leonard, a defensive player twice a year. Its oversized hands, thick frame and exceptional lateral speed make it an ideal counterweight for Antetokounmpo at both ends of the ground.
The Bucks have won three of their four meetings against the Raptors this season. In the only defeat, Antetokounmpo scored 43 points in January and captured 18 rebounds. If the Raptors have a chance to play in this series, they need more of their starting goaltender, Kyle Lowry. He was unequal against the stifling defense of Philadelphia, averaging 13 points and six assists for 40% of shots on goal.
If Lowry thought Philadelphia was tough, wait for him to take over the Bucks, who had the best defense in the league during the regular season. Lowry played some of his worst games against Milwaukee, averaging only 6 points on 23% of his shots in three games. This confrontation could result in the members of the support cast bringing the most. Lowry is a star player five times. He needs to play as one.
Toronto will also need more judges.
Serge Ibaka, who scored 17 points in the seventh match against Philadelphia, will have to provide valuable defense minutes against Antetokounmpo. Fred VanVleet, who often goes from a starting caliber guard to a player who should not be on the field, could see more minutes, especially if Lowry continues to fight the Bucks.
It's hard to beat Milwaukee at home (33-8 at the Fiserv Forum in the regular season), but the Raptors can draw some lessons from the Boston series this month. The Celtics sometimes managed to agitate Antetokounmpo by loading the painting with multiple defenders and isolating the edge. He often found himself without space to move.
Of course, he overcame that by tirelessly attacking the basket anyway and reaching the free throw line. Leonard will have to work hard to avoid trouble, given that the Toronto offensive has been dependent on him in the playoffs.
Supporting actors of Antetokounmpo can make it easier for him by hitting his outside shots, which were a fight against Boston. If the Bucks can spill on the ground, Antetokounmpo will go to the brink.
And then the Bucks will win. It's as simple as that. This means that Lopez and Eric Bledsoe, for example, who shoot at 28% to 3 points from the end of the playoffs, must do better. The return of Malcolm Brogdon (after nearly eight weeks of play with a right footed plantar fascia) will be of great help, provided he can resume his solid game of the regular season.
Whatever the case may be, this match will feature a high quality basketball and two stars who are well on their way to becoming greats. If this attracts casual fans is another question. This should be the case, but fans on both sides have regretted throughout the season that their team was neglected. TV audiences are down from last season and Milwaukee is not really a big market.
But nobody is neglecting these teams now. Only Leonard is a discreet assassin in one corner and Antetokounmpo in another freight train. Although neither one nor the other has a disproportionate personality or seems to be much interested in an off-field show, their playing styles make it a must match for the years to come. to come up. Let's hope people watch.
With injuries that could derail another Golden State Warriors win, both teams are legitimate threats to the crown. The question is: which superstar will take them there?
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