Raps head for pivotal Game 3
Antetokounmpo on the block, trying to create a quicker pace to feed their transition game, finding a better way to defend Serge Ibaka.
Playing in front of a home crowd can be an advantage, but for the Bucks to capitalize on home court they must throw the first punch and not allow the Raptors to initiate the game.
Protect the paint became the Raptors’ theme in the days leading up to Game 2, an obvious point of emphasis given how Milwaukee torched Toronto with 40 points in the paint in the Bucks’ 97-83 win in Game 1.
In Milwaukee’s Game 2 loss, the Bucks scored 10 fewer paint points.
Antetokounmpo was limited to 9-of-24 shooting after he made 13 of 18 shots in Game 1.
“Tonight (Game 2) they didn’t allow me to go in the paint,” he said. “Every time I drove the ball, everybody was sucking into the paint. They were more physical. I still have to make the right plays and try to find my teammates.”
He had four turnovers, three more than Game 1 as the Bucks committed seven more turnovers that led to a total of 18 points, 11 more points than they yielded in Game 1.
Fittingly, this series is all knotted up with Game 3 looming as that potentially series-altering tip, hoops history on the side of Thursday’s winner.
To pick a winner would be foolish because this series is a coin toss, the team that imposes its mental and physical toughness likely to advance.
For the Raptors, they can’t afford to miss seven free throws like they did in Game 2, nine misses from the stripe in Game 1.
Toronto shot better from distance in Game 2 than it did from the field, underscoring the need for Valanciunas to step up.
In two games, he’s gone a combined 6-of-15 from the field, at times forcing shots that have no chance of dropping, stretches when he makes poor decision making when the ball is in his hands.
The series can shift in Toronto’s favour if Valanciunas plays consistently and efficiently.
For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo needs to be the best player on the floor for either side.
“We have to come out and throw the first punch,’’ said DeMarre Carroll. “I think we came out more aggressive than they did on both ends of the floor (in Game 2).
“Towards the end of the second quarter (when Toronto led by eight with 1:35 to go) we kind of let them get back in, but we just have to try and build on leads.
“We are getting them up by eight or 10 points then we kind of let them slowly get back in the game. Hopefully we can throw the first punch and keep the lead and keep building on it.”
Punched in the mouth in Game 1, counter-punching in Game 2, the team that comes out swinging first in Game 3 will likely win.
It’s a series and it’s only going to get more serious. fzicarelli@postmedia.com