NBA Preview: The Raptors’ Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan want to shake off the memories of a slow start in the 2015-16 playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks (42-40) at Toronto Raptors (51-31), Saturday, 5:30 p.m. EST
Line: Raptors -7. Total 200.5.
The Raptors begin their quest to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers again in the Eastern Conference Saturday against the Bucks. Toronto won the regular season series 3-1 over Milwaukee.
Kyle Lowry missed 21 games when he had surgery on his right wrist during the All-Star break. Lowry returned for Toronto on April 5 and scored 27 points at Detroit. He then played the final three games of the regular season as a tune up for the postseason.
When Lowry went under the knife during the All-Star break, many prognosticators questioned whether Toronto would even be able to get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Lowry was in the midst of his best season as a pro with a career-high 22.8 points per game at the All-Star break.
However, those talking heads on television were proven wrong. The Raptors made two trade-deadline acquisitions to solidify their roster for a deep playoff run. Toronto added Serge Ibaka from Orlando and P.J. Tucker from Phoenix. These two pick-ups paid immediate dividends.
Toronto was the #4 seed, just half a game ahead of #5 Atlanta during the All-Star break. The Raptors went 14-7 with Lowry recovering from surgery and 4-0 since his return. Toronto moved up to the #3 seed since the All-Star break and gained 7 games on the floundering Cavaliers. The Raptors actually tied Cleveland with identical 51-31 records, but the Cavs own the tiebreaker, thus earning the #2 seed.
The Bucks are a team not many people know much about. Their most recognizable name the past few years has been coach Jason Kidd. Milwaukee rarely gets on national TV. The Bucks do not wow anybody with their statistical numbers. Milwaukee is ranked #20 in points per game and are #13 in offensive rating. They are #9 in points allowed per game and ranked #19 in defensive rating. Those are very pedestrian numbers.
However, the Bucks have a commodity that is anything but pedestrian. His name is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” is already in his fourth season at the age of 22. At 6-feet, 11-inches tall, he is listed as a shooting guard or small forward. However, he certainly does not play small by any means.
His numbers have gone up every season in virtually every offensive category. Antetokounmpo is having a breakout season with career highs in points per game (22.9) rebounds per game (8.7), assists per game (5.4), blocks per game (1.9) and steals per game (1.6) this season. He made the All-Star team for the Eastern Conference and scored 30 points, including several highlight-reel dunks. Antetokounmpo also averaged 24.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 7 APG against Toronto this season.
The Bucks need more than just Antetokounmpo to win. Khris Middleton missed the first 50 games of the season after injuring his left hamstring in the preseason. He had surgery to repair the hammy and came back a month early. Middleton was supposed to miss about 70 games.
Middleton scored 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting in Milwaukee’s only win against Toronto this season on March 4. Rookie shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points and Spencer Hawes added 16 points and 8 rebounds off the bench for Milwaukee in that win.
The Raptors go as Lowry and DeMar DeRozan go. The dynamic duo both had career highs for scoring this season as DeRozan averaged 27.3 PPG, while Lowry averaged 22.4 PPG. Both players struggled with their shooting early in the 2015-16 postseason as the #2 seeded Raptors barely got by the Pacers in the first round last year in 7 games. Lowry became the first player during the shot clock era to shoot less than 40% in 9 straight playoff games with at least 10 shots per game. Both players should shoot much better this postseason.
Milwaukee is just 17-24 ATS on the road this season. Toronto is 21-19-1 ATS at home this year. I think the Bucks can come out and steal Game 1 in Toronto or at worst cover the 7-point Vegas number.
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