Milwaukee Bucks: 4 Keys To Winning Game 5 Against Toronto Raptors
Closing The Holes On Defense
The Milwaukee Bucks play the most aggressive defensive scheme in the league, throwing two defenders at the ball handler in the pick-and-roll and relying on weakside defenders to pinch in and defend the roll man.
If the initial pass gets past the trap they fly around the court relying on their length to snuff out open shots.
The strength of this scheme is generating turnovers, as well as putting pressure on the ball-handler to make the right play with a sea of limbs in front of him. It also forces teams out of their primary actions, which are often centered around the pick-and-roll.
Through four games the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme have stood in stark contrast. In both of the games Milwaukee won, their defensive pressure squeezed the Raptors too tight and they were able to completely shut down the Toronto offense.
The Bucks have held their opponent to quarters of 12, 13, 16, 18 and 19 thus far.
In the games where Toronto has won, their guards have been able to avoid the wall of limbs and break into the middle of the floor. From there they have easier passing lanes, or the opportunity to attack the rim.
Milwaukee Bucks
They have accomplished this by reversing direction on screens once the big commits to the trap, leaving them with an opening. Kyle Lowry has also found space by jetting forward before the screen is set, catching the defense not quite rotated into position.
Neither plan of attack is a foolproof solution to the scheme, but the Raptors are squeezing out enough points to make it work.
Jason Kidd has done an inspired job managing the minutes of rookie sensation Thon Maker and Greg Monroe at center. At backup power forward he has less to work with, forced to trot out either the slow Mirza Teletovic or the oft-undisciplined Michael Beasley.
Beasley has been the better option thus far in the series, but neither has been foolproof.
Whether the option is playing Maker at the 4 — something Kidd has rarely done this season — or another solution, it will be on the coaching staff to help the players close the gaps on defense and prevent the Toronto guards from finding open space.
The Bucks have been the better team this series — they have a plus-24 advantage in scoring margin despite the 2-2 series tie — but the Raptors play two of the final three at home.
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Milwaukee will need to continue to grow together and address their weaknesses, but they have shown an ability to do so down the stretch of the season. The time is now for the young Bucks to show they belong.