Raptors come out ready and hungry

The Raptors with their backs against the wall and the possibility of losing 2 straight home games showed up to play in game 2. It feels like the Raptors do this every year (which they have for the past 3 years) after losing game 1 on their home court, they try to bounce back and win game 2. They have been successful 3 times but have lost once when they got swept by Washington. They were successful again last night against the Bucks, winning a hard fought game. The Bucks still have to feel great as they blew out the veteran Raptors in game 1 on their home floor and were a couple missed/made shots away from winning game 2 also. The road team always has to be happy with winning 1 out of 2 of the first two games, but it's also how they won. They dominated the Raptors in game 1.

The Raptors came out ready to play in game 2. Kyle Lowry was far better than his game 1 performance. The defense, the intensity was far better. They limited transition offense for Giannis and the Bucks. They did not let Giannis get to the rim as easily he did in game 1. The Bucks only had 12 fast break points for the game. The Raptors got back on defense and did not go for offensive rebounds. An adjustment which needed to be made because the greek freak is just too lethal in the open floor. They moved the ball, got easy shots, made wide open shots. I said in my game 1 post game analysis that they won't be able to beat the Bucks if they stall and play isolation basketball. They had 15 assists in game 1 compared to 24 in game 2. They shot a much better % from the field and the arc as a result. The Bucks are a lengthy, scrappy, athletic young team who excel at locking teams down in the half court playing isolation basketball. 

Kyle Lowry showed up with 22 points and 7 assists. He looked more ready and calm. Letting the game come to him, not forcing up shots and playing the right way. DeMar dropped 23 points on 50% field goal shooting, he was being doubled for chuncks of the game. He made great hockey assists finding the open man, who hit the open shooter in the corner. He showed he doesn't need to score 30 to be effective, he just draws so much attention and it opens the floor. Ibaka had a huge 2nd half on both ends of the floor. Scoring 13 of his 16 and protecting the rim. J.V was big, literally adding a needed double-double. P.J Tucker and Pattrick Paterson showed up adding valuable minutes off the bench and giving the Raptors exactly what they needed; toughness, energy and 3-point shooting.

The Bucks have to feel good with the result. They got 1 game and are heading home with home court advantage. They still have the best player in the series in the greek freak, who had 24 and 15. The shooters need to step up around and make more plays and not rely on him for everything. They can't let DeMar and Kyle both have good games and have the Raptors move the basketball. They need to make the Raps play iso ball and take bad mid-range jumpers (unless its DeMar because he's cash on those shots). They should feel confident and good about their play through the first 2 games.

The series heads to Milwaukee. The Raptors showed, they can bounce back. Their stars came to play. I just think the Raptors have too many pieces to lose this series. Giannis will be tough and even tougher with years to come. he just doesn't have the team around him to beat with this Raptor team. Still think the series will be competitive but I will stick with my prediction of Raptors in 6.