Ranking all 4 potential Raptors first round playoff opponents
By Mike Luciano
3. Milwaukee Bucks
On one hand, the Raptors are 3-0 against Milwaukee this season, including one win with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. On the other, the Raptors should avoid getting overly confident about their chances in this hypothetical matchup. Milwaukee has rarely been at full strength this season.
Giannis has been managing a knee ailment over the last few days while Khris Middleton picked up another injury recently. Brook Lopez has only just returned to the lineup following some concerning back problems. Pair those realities with a slightly inconsistent defense and you get a team that has a slight chance of getting upset.
Can the Toronto Raptors beat Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks?
If nothing else, Toronto has shown that they can withstand Milwaukee’s second unit. Even when their rotation was chopped down to as few as eight players, they were able to take it to Milwaukee when Giannis was not on the floor. They’ll need to replicate that in any hypothetical playoff matchup.
The Raptors have beaten Giannis at the peak of his powers in the postseason, but they lack the Kawhi Leonard X-factor this year. Through some combination of OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa, the Raptors might be able to impede Giannis enough to secure some wins in their series.