The NBA Playoffs are now down to four remaining teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks had a week off and will face off against Kawhi “game winning shot” Leonard and the Raptors who are coming off one of the most emotional moments in NBA history. The Warriors are without Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins and will have to deal with the Portland backcourt who is looking to take over Golden State’s reign as the top backcourt in the league.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been the most dominant team in the NBA playoffs, only needing nine games to get the required eight wins to get to the Conference Final round. Milwaukee has had a week to rest and prepare for their next opponent.
This could help Malcolm Brogdon get healthy and re-join the starting lineup. Brogdon played for the first time in Game 5 against Boston since March 15th, dealing with a plantar fascia tear.
MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has been electrifying in the playoffs with neither the Pistons nor the Celtics having an answer for stopping him. The Bucks have the upper hand, winning three out of the four matchups against Toronto.
Toronto Raptors
For a guy who doesn’t like to show emotion, Kawhi Leonard had the most emotional moment of the playoffs. Leonard ended the series on a buzzer-beater that hit every single part of the rim before deciding to fall in.
Leonard will have his hands full trying to stop Antetokounmpo. Other players like Kyle Lowry and Danny Green will have to be able to score in this series. The Bucks has strong three point shooters that both guards will have to either stop or keep up with. Green is averaging eight points this postseason which he will definitely need to improve on.
The Bucks are ranked number one defensively so any open shots that Raptors can get, they need to take them and make them. The Bucks are a very fast-paced team that Toronto will have to keep up with and cannot solely rely on Leonard’s heroics.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are a really good team, but going into the series they are far from full strength. Led by the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors took out their biggest rival Houston in six games.
The team will need both Curry and Thompson to come up big as Kevin Durant has already been declared out for game one and looks likely he will miss at least one more game with a calf strain. Durant could come back as well as DeMarcus Cousins who has not yet ruled out a return to the postseason. Head coach Steve Kerr told everyone not to get too excited about the pair returning any time soon.
“I think everyone needs to slow down a little bit on the Kevin stuff. He hasn’t even stepped on the floor yet. DeMarcus is probably similar. e hasn’t had any live stuff on the court yet. He’s not that close either. Hopefully, another week goes by and he’ll get better and now we have a better prognosis but at this point, we’re getting ready for this series without both of them,”
–Kerr told reporters on Monday
Portland Trailblazers
The Trailblazers have been such a great story. Last year Portland was embarrassed after being swept in the first round. Now they are just four wins from reaching the NBA Finals. They just have to get passed the reigning champs.
All of the NBA knows how great the Warriors’ backcourt is, but what about Portland? Both Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have shown out this postseason. Lillard had the epic deep three to send Oklahoma City packing. McCollum’s impressive performances in game six and seven, including an impressive chase down block, to eliminate Denver.
While much talk has been about the Warriors lack of depth, one of the best bench players for the Blazers, Rodney Hood, exited game 7 early. Hood suffered a left knee injury that is being described as bone bruise. He is listed as questionable for game one.
