Well, they did it!
The Raptors managed to take the first game won by a road team in this series, even though it took five games to see it.
A lot of people had prematurely anointed the Bucks as the de facto Eastern Conference champions when they took the first two games in Milwaukee, as they did for Golden State when the Warriors took Game 3 in Portland. People were already talking about a Golden State-Milwaukee NBA Finals series, and wondering whether the Warriors could match up with the size of the Bucks.
Well, it still might be the Warriors and the Bucks, but people too quickly dismissed and overlooked the Raptors, who were a terrific team all season long.
The Raptors barely managed to scrap enough to muster a win in overtime in Game 3, and perhaps many people thought that this was the one token win that Toronto might get, before ceding the series to Milwaukee.
But then, Toronto romped in Game 4, cruising to a convincing win to draw even in the series.
Then last night, they managed to pull off a tight win on the road under tough circumstances, ultimately winning, 105-99.
It sure did not seem obvious that the Raptors were going to manage the feat early on, when the Bucks owned all of the momentum and took a seemingly commanding 18-4 lead just five minutes into the game, with the home fans at Fiserv Forum rocking.
To their credit, the Raptors kept their composure. They did not panic, did not make mistakes that added to the onslaught. They did enough things right to get back into the game and then, ultimately, to put together a very solid fourth quarter, making the right plays at the key times to stun Milwaukee, a team that had not been seriously challenged to this point in the playoffs. Now, the Bucks are forced to try and dig in deep and come up with something themselves, as they now are on the brink of elimination.
Nick Nurse, the Toronto coach, was asked by ESPN what had allowed his team to turn things around after finding themselves down 0-2, and finding a way to win the next three games to put this team on the verge of qualifying for their first ever NBA Finals. This is what he said:
"This isn't the sexy answer, but from the first day of training camp we've been saying we're going to stay level. A s---ty preseason game is just gonna get written off. A great win at Golden State, same thing. A terrible game in San Antonio, 'Let's bounce back.'
"And we've done it all year. We've kept it even-keeled. Kawhi [Leonard] has helped that. Kyle [Lowry] has been so much less emotional and a great leader. Marc [Gasol], even Serge [Ibaka], those older guys, when things have gone s---ty, it's not questioning guys, it's 'Let's figure it out.' I think it was the same today."
Personally, I think it was an awesome job, and they have turned the tables a bit on Milwaukee. But they have to guard against overconfidence. Yes, they have to take advantage of this next game - their final home game of this series - and try to get the job done, and close out the Bucks, because this series so far has actually reminded me of another Eastern Conference Finals series, one quarter of a century ago. In that one, the Indiana Pacers also looked completely out-classed, out-muscled and out-hustled during the first two games, as the heavily favored New York Knicks followed the script, and looked well on their way to an easy and convincing Eastern Conference win. But the Pacers took the next two games in Indianapolis, and then they stunned the Knicks in Game 5, when Reggie Miller caught fire in what is now known as the "choke" game. But ultimately, the Knicks themselves found something deep within themselves, to take Game 6 in Indianapolis, and hung on for a tough win at home in Game 7.
Yes, this run of three straight wins against a favored Milwaukee team that looked virtually unbeatable just days ago is impressive and must feel nice. But the Raptors have a real chance now at winning the East and heading to their first ever NBA Finals, and they have got to capitalize on this golden opportunity. They have to get the job done, because the Pacers learned the hard way about how costly losing a home Game 6 could be, when that failure cost them the entire series.
For now, however, Toronto is looking mighty impressive. This is clearly the most successful season ever in the history of this young franchise, but it sure would be sweet if they could manage to get to the next level, and give themselves a date with destiny against Golden State, and a chance at winning their first ever NBA title.
Now, wouldn't that be something?
'Level' Kawhi puts Raptors on cusp of first Finals by Tim Bontemps of ESPN, May 24, 2019:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26810995/level-kawhi-puts-raptors-cusp-first-finals
The Raptors managed to take the first game won by a road team in this series, even though it took five games to see it.
A lot of people had prematurely anointed the Bucks as the de facto Eastern Conference champions when they took the first two games in Milwaukee, as they did for Golden State when the Warriors took Game 3 in Portland. People were already talking about a Golden State-Milwaukee NBA Finals series, and wondering whether the Warriors could match up with the size of the Bucks.
Well, it still might be the Warriors and the Bucks, but people too quickly dismissed and overlooked the Raptors, who were a terrific team all season long.
The Raptors barely managed to scrap enough to muster a win in overtime in Game 3, and perhaps many people thought that this was the one token win that Toronto might get, before ceding the series to Milwaukee.
But then, Toronto romped in Game 4, cruising to a convincing win to draw even in the series.
Then last night, they managed to pull off a tight win on the road under tough circumstances, ultimately winning, 105-99.
It sure did not seem obvious that the Raptors were going to manage the feat early on, when the Bucks owned all of the momentum and took a seemingly commanding 18-4 lead just five minutes into the game, with the home fans at Fiserv Forum rocking.
To their credit, the Raptors kept their composure. They did not panic, did not make mistakes that added to the onslaught. They did enough things right to get back into the game and then, ultimately, to put together a very solid fourth quarter, making the right plays at the key times to stun Milwaukee, a team that had not been seriously challenged to this point in the playoffs. Now, the Bucks are forced to try and dig in deep and come up with something themselves, as they now are on the brink of elimination.
Nick Nurse, the Toronto coach, was asked by ESPN what had allowed his team to turn things around after finding themselves down 0-2, and finding a way to win the next three games to put this team on the verge of qualifying for their first ever NBA Finals. This is what he said:
"This isn't the sexy answer, but from the first day of training camp we've been saying we're going to stay level. A s---ty preseason game is just gonna get written off. A great win at Golden State, same thing. A terrible game in San Antonio, 'Let's bounce back.'
"And we've done it all year. We've kept it even-keeled. Kawhi [Leonard] has helped that. Kyle [Lowry] has been so much less emotional and a great leader. Marc [Gasol], even Serge [Ibaka], those older guys, when things have gone s---ty, it's not questioning guys, it's 'Let's figure it out.' I think it was the same today."
Personally, I think it was an awesome job, and they have turned the tables a bit on Milwaukee. But they have to guard against overconfidence. Yes, they have to take advantage of this next game - their final home game of this series - and try to get the job done, and close out the Bucks, because this series so far has actually reminded me of another Eastern Conference Finals series, one quarter of a century ago. In that one, the Indiana Pacers also looked completely out-classed, out-muscled and out-hustled during the first two games, as the heavily favored New York Knicks followed the script, and looked well on their way to an easy and convincing Eastern Conference win. But the Pacers took the next two games in Indianapolis, and then they stunned the Knicks in Game 5, when Reggie Miller caught fire in what is now known as the "choke" game. But ultimately, the Knicks themselves found something deep within themselves, to take Game 6 in Indianapolis, and hung on for a tough win at home in Game 7.
Yes, this run of three straight wins against a favored Milwaukee team that looked virtually unbeatable just days ago is impressive and must feel nice. But the Raptors have a real chance now at winning the East and heading to their first ever NBA Finals, and they have got to capitalize on this golden opportunity. They have to get the job done, because the Pacers learned the hard way about how costly losing a home Game 6 could be, when that failure cost them the entire series.
For now, however, Toronto is looking mighty impressive. This is clearly the most successful season ever in the history of this young franchise, but it sure would be sweet if they could manage to get to the next level, and give themselves a date with destiny against Golden State, and a chance at winning their first ever NBA title.
Now, wouldn't that be something?
'Level' Kawhi puts Raptors on cusp of first Finals by Tim Bontemps of ESPN, May 24, 2019:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26810995/level-kawhi-puts-raptors-cusp-first-finals
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