Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Game 6 vs Toronto Raptors

Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) defends during the first quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) controls a ball as Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) defends during the first quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and point guard Cory Joseph (6) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Boston Celtics at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and point guard Cory Joseph (6) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Boston Celtics at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Major Key For Toronto: Keep Finding Threes

The Toronto Raptors will never be a team that launches threes like the Houston Rockets, for as long as the Raps have DeMar DeRozan hoisting mid-range jumpers like it’s going out of style. Still, Toronto has managed to make a lot of threes in their wins against Milwaukee.

The Raptors average 10.3 made threes in their three wins in this series, and just 5.5 made threes in their two losses. Similarly, the Raptors have shot much better in their victories, as the team has made 39.7 percent of their threes in wins and 24.4 percent of them in losses.

Making threes accomplishes more than simply an extra point on some longer shots. It opens up the floor and allows driving lanes to the rim to become established much easier, allowing DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to get better shots.

Removing Jonas Valanciunas from the starting lineup was huge for increasing Toronto’s spacing, as the lumbering Lithuanian took up a lot of real estate down low. Serge Ibaka is a much stretchier option who can operate from outside of the painted area, which forces the Bucks to account for all five Raptors no matter where they are on offense.

Valanciunas’ replacement has done more than simply offer the theoretical threat of spacing. Norman Powell is becoming the next great Bucks killer.