THE DETAILS WILL DECIDE THIS RAPS SERIES
It’s 2-2, but no one sees the Bucks as underdogs now
A seven-game series is reduced to three with two of the games on your home court. You should feel good about your chances, whether you are a member of the Toronto Raptors or just a fan of the team — but can you?
The Raptors re-established themselves as the team to beat in their 87-76 Game 4 win, which has to be a confidence boost. But it was just 48 hours before that when the Bucks turned the Raptors’ season on its head with such a tour de force that even the confidence of the most devout fans had to be shaken.
If the first four games have taught us anything, it is the team that plays hardest is going to win.
That may sound obvious — and, truthfully, it is — but far too often in dissecting a series, we get caught up in who has the most overall talent, who has the better depth, which team has the edge in experience, who has the fresher legs and a number of factors that matter a whole lot more when there is a sizable gap between the two teams taking part in the series.
The truth of the matter is the gap between these two teams is not that large at all. Yes, the Raptors had nine more regular season wins than the Bucks and finished three spots higher in the conference. Yes, the Raptors have substantially more experience than the young Bucks and yes, they have the edge in talent although no one comes close to the seemingly endless talent possessed within the sevenfoot frame of the Greek Freak, 22-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo.
By our rough estimate, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has referenced on at least eight or nine occasions already how small the gap really is, not just between Toronto and Milwaukee but from No. 1 through No. 8 in the Eastern Conference when it comes to the ability of winning basketball games.
The first seven or so times he said it, we nodded, all the while thinking he was just being complimentary towards his opponent. Turns out he was not.
A gutsy lineup change in Game 4 by the Raptors got another guard on the floor, prying Jonas Valanciunas away from chasing down Thon Maker and freeing DeMar DeRozan to be the scorer he has been all season.
Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said it was the move they were expecting coming into Game 4 so taking him at his word, it means the Bucks were prepared for the change and still didn’t react well. That’s a huge win for the Raptors beyond the game result, but look for the Bucks to have a better answer for this in Game 5.
But in the end, it’s still going to come down to the team that plays harder. Toronto may have got away with a win in Game 2 where they were beaten in the hard work game, but four games in, that’s unlikely to happen again.
Game 5 is Monday in Toronto.