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Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Game 4 vs Toronto Raptors

By Ti Windisch

Apr 20, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Thon Maker (7) takes a shot against Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Thon Maker (7) takes a shot against Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry (3) talks to forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) on the bench during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry (3) talks to forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) on the bench during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Major Key For Milwaukee: Don’t Let Up

The best part about Milwaukee’s win over the Raptors on Thursday was that Toronto never managed to make it a close game, even for a minute. Every time the Raptors started to look like they were interested in making a run, the Bucks invariably shut it down.

That’s how winning teams operate in the NBA Playoffs. The very same night, the Indiana Pacers allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to come back from a 25-point halftime lead. Milwaukee’s halftime lead was even bigger, but the Bucks simply didn’t let up to allow the Raptors to make things interesting.

Some fans might’ve wanted to see the starters come out even earlier in such an obvious blowout, but until Dwane Casey decided to pull Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and the rest of the Raptors starters there isn’t really a reason for Jason Kidd to throw out his B-Team.

Even if a comeback weren’t possible, letting those starters go on a run could’ve galvanized them for the rest of the series. That didn’t happen on Thursday–DeRozan went the entire game without making a field goal, and Lowry wasn’t much better. With nothing to build on, the Raptors are sledding uphill into Game 4.

Milwaukee would be wise to remember how effective it was for them to keep their foot on the gas in Game 3. There’s definitely no reason to let up the intensity now, not with a series victory becoming more and more obtainable.

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