Series Thread: ECF: 1) Milwaukee Bucks vs 2) Toronto Raptors

[Shanemansj13]

The Bucks are so great and deep that several of the players had bad games and they still won.

They got 0 points in 38 total minutes from Hill & Connaughton.

Middleton and Bledsoe scored a total of 20 points on 7-24 shooting (1-12 from 3)

Mirotic shot 3-9.

Greek Freak was solid but not great exactly.

They seem to bring energy, patience and stout defensive every night, for a somewhat young team this is surprising. I think they have a good shot at the W's bc of that energy and defensive play. Like I have said before I really love their core and depth.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Bucks might be better than any of the Cleveland teams GS faces in the Finals.

Not sold on Raptors though. They are a good team, no doubt. But I think a playoff series between them and Portland probably goes 7 games. They are pretty close, IMO.

Definitely...Remember Kyrie and Lebron went bezerk. The Bucks definitely have more depth, their youth is on their side and their defense overall is better than that championship CLE team. I still think CLE had a pretty good team the first year -2017, KD went to GS. GS was absolutely on fire that postseason and Finals. They averaged 121 ppg in the Finals lol.

But you could also argue those 2016 and 2017 teams were better than this current GS team. They had more depth. McCaw, West, Pachulia, McGee, Clark.

So the gap between those Cavs teams and Warriors teams in 16 and 17 was bigger than this current Bucks team and Warriors team gap imo.

 

[Shanemansj13]

The matchups in this series are interesting. Looking forward to seeing game 2 adjustments.

Toronto must get more from their bench. They went from being one of the deepest teams last season to being one of the least deep today. Just not sure how much better Toronto can play. Lowry not going to shoot this well every night and Kawhi is going to have a tougher time getting his 30 against the gauntlet of tough wing defenders Milwaukee will thrown at him.

Brogdon's return really tilts this series. He is a fantastic role player. His versatility transforms the Bucks from a really good team to a legit championship contender.

Can't see the Bucks beating GS this season, but they will he hands down the hardest Finals test since KD arrived in Oakland.

Surprised they aren't giving Powell more minutes, he did get 10 in this game but Gasol just can't play 41 minutes. He won't make it through this series. They don't have a choice but damn.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

That coach need to find out better ways to rest him.

It is so easy to give your star a 10 minute rest (in real time) if you use your timeouts correctly.

42 mins

That coach need to find out better ways to rest him.

It is so easy to give your star a 10 minute rest (in real time) if you use your timeouts correctly.

Yep...coming off a 7 gm series, 42 mins last night for a game 1 I thought was a lot...the only guy scoring late was Lowry, in fact he was the only Raptor to score a 4Q FG I heard...I know Kawhi didn't score a FG in the 4Q, but I thought somebody else did.

 

[dtgold88]

That coach need to find out better ways to rest him.

It is so easy to give your star a 10 minute rest (in real time) if you use your timeouts correctly.

so, true. I always thought rest based on minutes was so overblown....especially in playoffs and moreso in Finals when there is far more downtime during the game. Rest is rest.

 

[dtgold88]

The matchups in this series are interesting. Looking forward to seeing game 2 adjustments.

Toronto must get more from their bench. They went from being one of the deepest teams last season to being one of the least deep today. Just not sure how much better Toronto can play. Lowry not going to shoot this well every night and Kawhi is going to have a tougher time getting his 30 against the gauntlet of tough wing defenders Milwaukee will thrown at him.

Brogdon's return really tilts this series. He is a fantastic role player. His versatility transforms the Bucks from a really good team to a legit championship contender.

Can't see the Bucks beating GS this season, but they will he hands down the hardest Finals test since KD arrived in Oakland.

Hands down the hardest? Better than the Lebron, Love, Kyrie team? Better seems like a bit of a stretch but not crazy. "Hands down better" just the usual extreme comment I expect.

 

[dtgold88]

Definitely...Remember Kyrie and Lebron went bezerk. The Bucks definitely have more depth, their youth is on their side and their defense overall is better than that championship CLE team. I still think CLE had a pretty good team the first year -2017, KD went to GS. GS was absolutely on fire that postseason and Finals. They averaged 121 ppg in the Finals lol.

But you could also argue those 2016 and 2017 teams were better than this current GS team. They had more depth. McCaw, West, Pachulia, McGee, Clark.

So the gap between those Cavs teams and Warriors teams in 16 and 17 was bigger than this current Bucks team and Warriors team gap imo.

Never thought we'd win that series, but did beat them by what seemed like 50 in game 4 and a Korver shot away from going back to Cleveland down 3-2.

I could buy Milwaukee better (though I disagree), but "hands down better" is kooky talk.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I'm in no way looking past Portland, but realistically I can see either of these 2 teams possibly giving the Dubs more than they can handle in the finals.

 

[trojanfan12]

Ibaka should probably get more minutes than him in this series IMO. 40 minutes for Gasol and only 17 for Ibaka doesn't make sense when you're playing a C like Lopez who going to attempt a bunch of 3's (attempted 11 tonight)

Yeah, if Gasol isn't hitting his shots and Lopez is, then Gasol isn't going to help much because he's not going to be defending the perimeter.

Fortunately for the Raptors and Gasol. I doubt Lopez has any more 29 point, 11 rebound, 4 block games left in him.

 

[msgkings322]

I'm in no way looking past Portland, but realistically I can see either of these 2 teams possibly giving the Dubs more than they can handle in the finals.

Milwaukee yes, not Toronto

 

[Shanemansj13]

I'm in no way looking past Portland, but realistically I can see either of these 2 teams possibly giving the Dubs more than they can handle in the finals.

If Portland doesn't change their defensive scheme this won't go past 5 games.

 

[LambeauLegs]

The Bucks are so great and deep that several of the players had bad games and they still won.

They got 0 points in 38 total minutes from Hill & Connaughton.

Middleton and Bledsoe scored a total of 20 points on 7-24 shooting (1-12 from 3)

Mirotic shot 3-9.

Greek Freak was solid but not great exactly.

The last time they played like the game last night they lost by 22 points to Boston

 

[raptorlife4]

1 game

 

[raptorlife4]

Raptors carried the play the majority of the game. Fourth quarter the shooting went cold outside of Lowry. Both teams will make adjustments and we'll see where we are after game 2. I think the Raptors played pretty good last night until the 4th quarter. And I'm not sure how many 29 point games Lopez has left in him

 

[Hambombs]

Bucks might be better than any of the Cleveland teams GS faces in the Finals.

Not sold on Raptors though. They are a good team, no doubt. But I think a playoff series between them and Portland probably goes 7 games. They are pretty close, IMO.

I hope you're right but I doubt it

 

[bksballer89]

Raptors carried the play the majority of the game. Fourth quarter the shooting went cold outside of Lowry. Both teams will make adjustments and we'll see where we are after game 2. I think the Raptors played pretty good last night until the 4th quarter.

Totally agree with this.

And I'm not sure how many 29 point games Lopez has left in him

True but how many games are you expecting 20 total points from Middleton and Bledsoe?

 

[Hambombs]

I still got Toronto in 6-7 sticking by it

 

[buckalis]

Hard to take you seriously thinking snell is a good players and has a contract anyone would want.

Did I say "anyone"? or is it "that he has an excellent contract for teams that are in need to add a 3&D wing"? ...and then again, who cares if you think different?!

 

[dtgold88]

Did I say "anyone"? or is it "that he has an excellent contract for teams that are in need to add a 3&D wing"? ...and then again, who cares if you think different?!

In need to add a guy who plays as much as you for his team?

 

[buckalis]

In need to add a guy who plays as much as you for his team?

Snell has had as much playing time as anybody in the 2nd roster... I think you confuse (minor but lengthy) injuries and being in "restricted minutes" with players that are not used... He has even had three starts this season... Still a 40% shooter from beyond the arc and an excellent defender.