PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Eastern Conf Total of the Month >> 8-2 L10 NBA Totals!
(NBA) Milwaukee vs. Toronto,
Total: 193.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 193.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Toronto Raptors reached the Eastern Conference finals last year but not before losing each one of the three Game 1s the team played during three separate series. Well, nothing has changed for the Raptors in the 2017 postseason, as they were held to 32 second-half points on Saturday by the Bucks, as Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in its opening round series against Toronto, 97-83.
Milwaukee: Since losing in the Eastern Conference finals back in 200-01 season to the 76ers and Allen Iverson, the Bucks had made the playoffs just six times before this season, while losing each time in the first round. One game does not a series make but let's note that the Bucks sure didn't look like a team that had lost 13 of its past 15 regular-season games to the Raptors when it rode the coattails of All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's 28-point effort to a 14-point victory. The "Greek Freak" averaged 22.9-8.8-5.4 on the season and noted, "It's big for us, but now we have to focus on Game 2," he told reporters. "We know they're going to be more desperate." Antetokounmpo wasn't alone on Saturday, as rookie PG Malcolm Brogdon contributed 16 points, center Greg Monroe contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds off the bench plus while SG Middleton made just 4 of 15 FG attempts for 10 points, he handed out nine assists.
Toronto: The Raptors were outscored 51-32 in the second half with All-Star PG Kyle Lowry scoring only two points in the second half and four points for the game on 2-for-11 shooting (0 of 6 on threes). DeRozan, who averaged 27.3 PPG on 46.7% shooting this season, made only 7 of 21 shots, as 13 of his 27 points came from the FT line. "It sounds like a yearly song we sing but we're going to go as (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan) go and he's got to be aggressive no matter what the defense is doing," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Serge Ibaka was the best Raptor on the court, scoring 19 points adding 14 rebounds but was the only starter to make a three-pointer in the game (Toronto was 5-of-23 from long range).
The pick: Toronto's been in this position before, as the Raptors are now 0-9 in opening games of first-round playoff series and just 1-11 in Game 1s, overall. Quite frankly, how pathetic is that? However, Toronto did average 106.9 PPG (10th) on the season and even if we include Saturday's awful 83-point effort, the Raptors have averaged 110.2 PPG at Air Canada Centre this season. Maybe Toronto loses again but it will go down 'swinging.' Make the Over a 10* play.
Milwaukee: Since losing in the Eastern Conference finals back in 200-01 season to the 76ers and Allen Iverson, the Bucks had made the playoffs just six times before this season, while losing each time in the first round. One game does not a series make but let's note that the Bucks sure didn't look like a team that had lost 13 of its past 15 regular-season games to the Raptors when it rode the coattails of All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's 28-point effort to a 14-point victory. The "Greek Freak" averaged 22.9-8.8-5.4 on the season and noted, "It's big for us, but now we have to focus on Game 2," he told reporters. "We know they're going to be more desperate." Antetokounmpo wasn't alone on Saturday, as rookie PG Malcolm Brogdon contributed 16 points, center Greg Monroe contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds off the bench plus while SG Middleton made just 4 of 15 FG attempts for 10 points, he handed out nine assists.
Toronto: The Raptors were outscored 51-32 in the second half with All-Star PG Kyle Lowry scoring only two points in the second half and four points for the game on 2-for-11 shooting (0 of 6 on threes). DeRozan, who averaged 27.3 PPG on 46.7% shooting this season, made only 7 of 21 shots, as 13 of his 27 points came from the FT line. "It sounds like a yearly song we sing but we're going to go as (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan) go and he's got to be aggressive no matter what the defense is doing," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Serge Ibaka was the best Raptor on the court, scoring 19 points adding 14 rebounds but was the only starter to make a three-pointer in the game (Toronto was 5-of-23 from long range).
The pick: Toronto's been in this position before, as the Raptors are now 0-9 in opening games of first-round playoff series and just 1-11 in Game 1s, overall. Quite frankly, how pathetic is that? However, Toronto did average 106.9 PPG (10th) on the season and even if we include Saturday's awful 83-point effort, the Raptors have averaged 110.2 PPG at Air Canada Centre this season. Maybe Toronto loses again but it will go down 'swinging.' Make the Over a 10* play.
