Toronto Raptors Roundtable: Biggest questions before the Milwaukee Bucks series

The Toronto Raptors are moving on the Eastern Conference Finals to face the juggernaut, Milwaukee Bucks. Before these two teams showdown, we asked our contributors the biggest questions heading into the series.

The Toronto Raptors are here. The most important series in franchise history. A chance to play in the NBA Finals. The Milwaukee Bucks are no easy path. Milwaukee finished the regular season as the best team in the NBA and now will look to prove their value against their toughest opponent yet.

What are the answers to winning the series? We ask our top contributors their thoughts on the five biggest questions heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

What is the most important part of the Raptors stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Jordan Skuse:

Overall team defence will be key, as no one player is capable of slowing down Giannis on their own – not even Kawhi Leonard. Much like how it has elected to guard Ben Simmons in the Sixers series, Toronto needs to give Giannis space and encourage him to shoot from the outside because once he gets into the paint, it’s practically game over. Also, limiting transition opportunities will be vital to slowing down Giannis and Milwaukee’s offence.

Mike Bossetti:

Giving him different looks. Giannis is too good and too smart if you plan on consistently throwing the same defense at him. Boston was effective in Game 1 with Horford, but eventually, he figured it out. Toronto needs to use occasional doubles, defend him with different players, or perhaps even throw in a little 3-2 zone at him.

Go Paolo:

Why stop Giannis? He isn’t the problem. Giannis only averaged 19 points a game in the three games Milwaukee won. The only game they lost, he dropped 43 points. Let Giannis score all he wants and lock down the perimeter scoring. I’m more concerned about them stopping the three-headed monster of Middleton, Lopez, and Mirotic.

Vimal Sivakumar:

Speed. Toronto can’t stop Giannis completely. However, if Toronto utilizes its capable players appropriately (Siakam, primarily), I believe speed will be the key to mitigating Antetokounmpo for the Raptors. With both their hands and their feet, Giannis’ primary defenders need to be quick enough in their movement to disrupt and annoy him, thereby forcing him to defer, throughout this series.