Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks Plans for Improvements

Toronto Raptors Plans for Improvements 

The Toronto Raptors take the driver seat leading the series 3-2 after Kawhi Leonard’s stunning performance in game 5 with 35 points and a career high of 9 assist win in Milwaukee. The Raptors have put together an amazing performance winning three games in a row to force a game 6 in Toronto on Saturday to finish the Bucks and head to the finals to play against the three headed dragon in Golden State.

Toronto’s bench production in the previous three games has been outstanding, two key playmakers that make a difference are Fred Vanvleet and Norman Powell, which have been the spark plugs off the bench for the Raptors. Vanvleet has found his shot in the previous two games shooting 83.3% percent from the field in game 4 and 53.8% in game 5. Powell has been in rhythm scoring in double digit figures for three games in a row.

Kyle Lowry has been stepping as well being the co-star that Kawhi Leonard needs to be able to win, and keep and eye out for the big man Marc Gasol, who potentially could have a big game in game 6 down in Toronto.

Toronto’s game plan improvements will consist of keeping everybody healthy, with a banged up Kyle Lowry (Thumb) and a limping Kawhi Leonard, they could be on a verge of losing a major key player if not kept healthy.

Offensively the Raptors want to take care of the ball more and have a better shooting percentage from the field than 36.9%. Also on the offensive end they will need to crash the glass more because they only had ten offensive rebounds giving them less of a chance for second chance points in the paint.

On the defensive end of the ball the Raptors want to continue to force turnovers and difficult three point shots. The Raptors defensive game plan against Giannis started in game 3, where they built a wall with Gasol, Leonard, and Siakam to slow down the presumed Kia MVP.

If the Raptors can continue their amazing play, Kawhi and Kyle continue to lead the team and the bench stays consistent for game 6, the Toronto Raptors will be in the NBA Finals.

Milwaukee Bucks Plans for Improvements

Ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals game 6 matchup, Milwaukee looks for ways to improve their efforts on both sides of the ball. The Bucks once lead the series 2-0 before heading to Toronto for games 3 and 4. Kriss Middleton, was an first time All-Star this year and Giannis has put on a spectacular season this year being presumed as the Kia MVP. Both players are the spark plugs for the Bucks and they will need their energy in Toronto on Saturday to push for a game 7.

The Milwaukee Bucks are the league's best defensive team sitting at number one but they want to prove themselves that they are the best by creating more turnovers, and slowing down Kawhi Leonard and putting a hand up on the shooters. They only forced six turnovers to their own eleven which is not good, however they defensively outrebounded the Raptors by 10.

Offensively the Bucks look to improve on both three point and free throw shooting, after only shooting 72.2% at the free throw line and 32.3% from three point range in game 5. The Bucks will want to continue to crash the boards to for second chance points to compete with the Raptors. They will also look to take care of the ball as well because costly turnovers will ruin a close game, especially with Kawhi in Toronto. Also, on the offensive end they will need better production from George Hill (-22) and Nikola Mirotic (-11) who both had a terrible plus or minus in game 5.

The last improvement that the Milwaukee Bucks will have apart of their game plan, will be to have a better and more consistent bench production after getting outplayed by the Raptors bench in Game 5. Mirotic and Ilyasova both did not have any points in game 5, they will need to come in game 6 with a better mindset and score points to able to force a game 7.

If the Bucks want to win in Toronto on Saturday to force a game 7 back in Milwaukee, they will need major key productions from the bench and production from the presumed KIA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a stunning performance from Malcolm Brogdon and Kris Middleton.