With the final four established after Sunday’s duo of Game 7s, the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals will come down to the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re in the Endgame now. No, not the one you’re thinking of. The endgame of the 2019 NBA Playoffs.
With the race to the Larry O’Brien Trophy dwindling down to four teams, it’s time to break down the matchup between the two titans in the Eastern Conference Finals: the 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the new-look Toronto Raptors.
After seasons of underachieving with the all-world talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo and budding star Khris Middleton, the Bucks have finally broken through the proverbial glass ceiling.
In Mike Budenholzer’s inaugural season as head coach of the Bucks, the former Coach of the Year led the potential-ridden team to a 60-22 record, good enough to claim the title of having the most wins in the league this year all while being the only team to break the 60-win barrier.
After being a perennially great regular season team over the past four years but eventually flaming out to the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors hit the reset button over the past offseason in more than one way.
First, the Raptors decided to part ways with longtime head coach Dwayne Casey and in turn swung for the fences by acquiring disgruntled superstar Kawhi Leonard and 3-and-D swingman Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected first round draft pick.
With a record of 58-24, it’s clear the Raptors were geared to make a legitimate title run against the formidable Bucks.
There can only be one representative in the East, so let’s not waste more time and get into the most important factors that will determine the winner of the series.