Milwaukee Bucks: Series With Toronto Raptors Is Tied But Not Even
Milwaukee Has Cards Yet To Play
The Milwaukee Bucks have been the better team through two games. The Milwaukee Bucks have home-court advantage for the remainder of the series. And it is the Milwaukee Bucks with cards left to play that could tip things even more in their balance.
As noted by the Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks, head coach Jason Kidd has a number of moves he could make to further eliminate Toronto’s strengths. Those moves center around Giannis Antetokounmpo, perhaps the league’s most versatile player and one still brimming with potential.
DeMar DeRozan has struggled in the last three postseasons for the Raptors, and in ways that the Bucks can replicate. Strong wings with length have troubled DeRozan, specifically Paul George and LeBron James last year.
Through two games Kidd has leaned on Tony Snell, Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon to match up with DeRozan. They have done a solid job — the Toronto wing is shooting just 16-for-39 from the field — but DeRozan has managed to generate 20 free throw attempts, hitting 18 of them.
If Kidd decides to put Antetokounmpo on DeRozan, the Raptors could instantly lose their leading scorer. Giannis’ length would neutralize DeRozan’s angles at the rim, and give him the space not to bite on shot fakes but simply contest from a solid defensive stance.
Antetokounmpo can also shift down, playing the 5 in smaller, wing-heavy lineups. The wingspan of the Bucks rotation is so incredible that putting the 6’11” Antetokounmpo at the 5 is hard to quantify as “small ball,” even though he is a nominal small forward. Such a move would unlock full 1-to-5 switchable versatility and open up the floor on offense.
There are other adjustments Kidd could make as well – starting Greg Monroe, pairing Dellavedova and Brogdon more often, further cross-matching defensive assignments to confuse Toronto in transition – which means Milwaukee is dangerous moving forward.
Milwaukee Bucks: 5 Reasons They Won Game 1
If Toronto didn’t realize it yet, Game 3 may be the reality check.