Milwaukee Bucks: 4 Keys To Winning Game 5 Against Toronto Raptors

Playing With Energy

Game 4 was played at a near glacial pace, with both teams combining poor shooting with few possessions to score just a combined 163 points. Toronto’s 87 points were by far the lowest total for a winning team this postseason and Milwaukee’s 76 were the fewest by a losing team.

The Toronto Raptors want to keep the pace slow, as their offensive sets by design take 15-20 seconds off the clock before a shot is taken. They are built to probe a defense multiple times before attacking a crease, not to race out in transition in search of quick points.

That’s where Milwaukee thrives, aggressively attacking the ball on defense to generate transition opportunities. Except on Saturday that energy was missing, and the Bucks instead were content to walk the ball up to begin the offense.

Milwaukee had just 13 fast break points, but even more so were sluggish in initiating offense.

That plays into the hands of the Raptors, the older team wishing to slow things down. The Bucks have the youth advantage, and one key way to play that up is attacking with energy on offense.

Whether the Bucks were tired from the quick turnaround — game Thursday night, then again Saturday afternoon — or another cause is unknown, but has to be corrected.

Limiting turnovers will also help the offensive speed; once a team begins turning the ball over it naturally becomes hesitant, not wishing to continue the trend. But Saturday the Bucks were both timid and sloppy, a dangerous combination.

Recapturing that fire can help Milwaukee recapture the series lead on Monday.