NBA playoffs on May 17: Bucks dominant in win over Raptors

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The Milwaukee Bucks achieved a big win at home over the Toronto Raptors 125-103 at the Fiserv Forum on Friday, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series. Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 30 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and two blocks for Milwaukee, ruining the efforts by Toronto's Kawhi Leonard who put down 31 points and eight rebounds.

The series will now move to Toronto for Game 3 and Game 4.

Bucks already win after first half

Ersan Ilyasova #77 and Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the game they win against the Toronto Raptors 125-103 at the Fiserv Forum, May 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Three of Milwaukee's six players who dropped double-digit points in Friday's game came from the bench and two of them, Ersan Ilyasova and Malcolm Brogdon did it in the first half. After the first two quarters, Ilyasova and Brogdon already had 15 and 12 points respectively while the bench squad of the team's had 31 points.

By contrast, Toronto only received 11 points from their bench players during the same period. Considering that their starting lineup only put down 28 points as well and Leonard was the only one to score over 10 points (11), no wonder Toronto trailed by 25 points (64-39) in the first half.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) of the Bucks blocks a shot by Fred VanVleet (L) of the Raptors in the game, May 17, 1019. /VCG Photo

The Bucks could not play more comfortable in the first half. They led in almost everything: 8-3 in three-pointers, 11-2 in second-chance points, 11-4 in turnover points… Instead of keeping assaulting the Raptors' double-teaming defense, Antetokounmpo could focus on defense and fast break. He had 11 points in the first two quarters but got nine rebounds and three assists.

Though Toronto seemed to launch some counter-attacks in the second half, Milwaukee maintained the control of the game in their hands, especially in the fourth quarter. Every time the opponent tried to gain momentum with an incredible play, Milwaukee were able to make an answer ball. After several straight possessions like this, the game grew hopeless for Toronto.

Raptors try to change, but it does not work

Nick Nurse, head coach of the Raptors in the game against the Bucks, May 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Nick Nurse, head coach of the Raptors seemed to have learned his lesson from the lost Game 1. He extended the team's rotation in the game to even include Jodie Meeks; he gave 24, 27 and 23 minutes to Normand Powell, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet respectively on the court; was he trying to help ease the burden on Leonard?

Though we did not know the answer to that question, one thing is clear: the coach Nurse's tactics failed. Toronto in total had three players with the double-digit point, and they were Leonard (31), Kyle Lowry (15) and Powell (14); Leonard still played 37 minutes – it was his starting teammates, Pascal Siakam, Danny Green and Marc Gasol, who saw their time reduced.

Kawhi Leonard of the Raptors in the game against the Bucks, May 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Nurse's new arrangements backfired too. As the team's only reliable option in the offense, Leonard only shot five times in the first half though he efficiently made four of them. Meanwhile, his teammates kept missing shots either from the 3-pt line or in front of the tough defense of the Bucks under the rim. Having realized what had gone wrong, Leonard tried to carry in the third quarter by claiming 15 points in Q3 alone, but it's already too late, not to mention his teammates remained the same.

The reason why Toronto lost in Game 2 was simple: they were outplayed by Milwaukee. Toronto's bench players cannot be counted on to the team must rely on their starting ones, most of whom are no much better. By contrast, Milwaukee can always count on at least two or three from the first-lineup – one of them is Antetokounmpo - to make steady contributions while there are often surprises – Ilyasova, Brogdon – standing from the bench.

Is there anything else Raptors can do?

Pascal Siakam #43, Serge Ibaka #9, Danny Green #14, Kyle Lowry #7 and Marc Gasol #33 of the Raptors in the game against the Bucks, May 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Though the Raptors will head back to Canada for the following two games, home court advantage does not seem to be helpful enough. The team tried to squeeze the best out of the starting lineup, which consumed their strength before the last quarter; they tried trusting the bench squad, which brought Friday's painful loss.

Though coach Nurse has never been known for aiming the opponent's weakness or making plans based on it, Milwaukee's weakness is clear enough: they allow enough three-pointers. All Toronto need to do is to make those open shots from downtown but so far they just could not do it.