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After a compelling first game in the Eastern Conference Finals, we will not be seeing a Lebron James led team in the Finals representing the East. The Milwaukee Bucks have the early upper hand over the Toronto Raptors, but this series is far from over.
The Bucks won the first game 108-100 and it wasn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo who carried the team. Brook Lopez had 29 points and 11 rebounds in the game to spark the Bucks to the win. Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the first game and winning with him not being the featured player had to give Milwaukee a bit of relief.
The Raptors were led by Kawhi Leonard with 31 points and nine rebounds. Kyle Lowry added in 30 points for the Raptors. The Bucks are favoured in game two by 7 points.
Milwaukee is in a Good Spot
The Bucks should feel pretty good about themselves after a win in the first game of the series. The Bucks did not play a very good game and still came away with a win, a testament to their depth. The emergence of Lopez might have won them the game as Antetokounmpo did not have his best effort.
Malcolm Brogdon also had a really solid output scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. His plus/minus was +18 which was the highest mark in the game. If these three players play again like this, they are going to be very tough to stop. I really like the makeup of this team and how they are gelling together right now as a unit.
Toronto Needs to be Able to Hold it Together
The Raptors were in full control of this game through the first three quarters before they collapsed in the fourth quarter. The Raptors just could not grab rebounds and the Bucks feasted on that and took advantage. On the offensive side of the floor the Raptors grabbed eight offensive boards while the Bucks pulled in 15.
Another thing that really hurt the team was the poor shooting by everyone not named Kyle Lowry. Taking away his shooting percentage, the rest of the team was just 24-of-77 from the floor for a 31.1 percent clip. This is going to have to improve if the Raptors want to have a chance at winning this second game.
The Raptors were so close and they let it slip away, in the conference finals you can’t do that because they will make you pay.
Bucks and Raptors Collide
The Bucks look to be in full control of the series and they aren’t going to let it slip at home. The Raptors should have won this first game but the Bucks found a way to come through and grab the win.
The Bucks are a good team at home and with the second game at home I think the Bucks are taking a 2-0 lead to Canada.
Take the Bucks to win and cover the spread.
