Milwaukee Bucks: Series With Toronto Raptors Is Tied But Not Even
Home Court Now Goes To Milwaukee
The phrase “steal home court” is one tossed around during NBA playoff series, and it may seem like a minor thing. Overall the Raptors and Bucks are tied at 1-1, with the series now reset to a best-of-five series.
The reason this is not entirely accurate is that three of the final five games will be played in Milwaukee. If the Bucks simply hold on at home, they will advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.
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The Milwaukee Bucks are not an especially dominant team at home; in fact, their 23-18 mark is identical to Toronto’s 23-18 mark on the road. Seven teams in the Eastern Conference won more games at home than the Bucks.
But the reality is that every team plays better at home, and Milwaukee has already shown this postseason that it is a better team than the sum of its season. The length and lineup versatility are ideal for a playoff setting, and for all of his faults, Jason Kidd has seemed to over-perform in the playoff spotlight as a head coach.
The burden is now on Toronto to win as the road team in one of the games in Wisconsin. They have to steal back home court, or yet again wilt as the loser in a first-round upset. Last season the Raptors showed an ability to win back a series after dropping a game at home – they will have to do so yet again.