5 Reasons The Milwaukee Bucks Can Still Win Their Series Against Toronto Raptors

Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors forward PJ Tucker (2) defends during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors forward PJ Tucker (2) defends during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors forward PJ Tucker (2) defends during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors forward PJ Tucker (2) defends during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks are in a tough spot, down 3-2 to the Toronto Raptors in their first-round playoff series. But this team has what it takes to pull off the upset.

The Milwaukee Bucks have gone from in control of their playoff series to on the ropes, dropping two straight games to fall behind the curve for the first time this series.

The odds for the lower-seeded team down 3-2 after five games are bleak — only 8 percent of such teams come back to win the series.

That doesn’t mean the Bucks should start booking tickets for summer vacation, however. The average team in this position is significantly worse than their opponent — Milwaukee has reason to believe they are the better team.

As recently as last Thursday, the cleaning crew in Milwaukee was sweeping up what remained of the Raptors after a 104-77 beatdown in Game 3.

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The Raptors have won three of the five games, but the overall point margin in the series is only plus-1 Toronto. Milwaukee is only a couple of missed wide-open shots at the end of Game 2 from being up 3-2 itself.

This series is mathematically weighted towards Toronto, but qualitatively either team could win.

Toronto has earned the role of favorite, but Milwaukee is ready to play spoiler and kick off a new era in Bucks’ basketball, one centered around star power and playoff success.

The Bucks and their fans have a number of reasons to believe they can come back in this series and win the final two games.

Those reasons begin where everything about the Bucks begins — with the league’s fastest-rising star, Giannis Antetokounmpo.