Listen to That’s A Rap #76: Recapping Bucks-Raps and Wooing Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks are the best team in the NBA. Period.

Since the NBA expanded to 25 teams in 1988, only two teams have ever led the league in eFG% AND Defensive eFG% — the 2014-15 champion Golden State Warriors and the 2016-17 champion Golden State Warriors. The Bucks are comfortably leading both categories!

Going head-to-head with an all-time great team was always going to be a tall task — even for a Raptors squad that had won 17 of their last 18. While the Bucks came out on top, there were some positives that came out of this heavyweight tilt.

The boys discussed these takeaways and what this means in a possible playoff rematch on the latest episode of That’s A Rap!

On This Episode:

The last time the Bucks visited Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors used a second half comeback to eliminate Milwaukee, en route to the franchise’s first NBA championship. Judging by the atmosphere, the TNT broadcast crew, and status as the two best teams in the conference, you’d be remiss not to think this was a continuation of the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals.

Maybe it’s the accounts we follow or maybe, just maybe, Raptors Twitter is actually seeing the forest, and not just the trees! Last year’s championship meant a change in mindset for Raptor fans, a mindset that no longer accepts “moral victories”. However, the loss to Milwaukee did offer some glimmers of hope.

OG Anunoby is ready to fill the Kawhi Leonard’s shoes as the primary Giannis stopper. In 4.5 minutes of coverage, Anunoby limited Antetokounmpo to only two field goal attempts. The fact that Giannis made those shots is beside the point. You can never stop a superstar like Giannis, but OG sure as hell slowed him down. Marc Gasol’s rebounding, screening, and playmaking were all missed in this game. While Terence Davis showed flashes of being the next great Bucks killer, Norm Powell’s offense could have come in handy.

At the end of the day, Milwaukee showed why a perfect game plan is required to defeat them. Down 12 with two minutes remaining, the Bucks hit three triples and entered the half only down by two, and with all the momentum. Milwaukee never looked back, limiting the Raptors to 28% shooting from three (7-of-25) in the second half.

2:15 - Playoff-like Atmosphere

4:50 - No Excuses

6:30 - Learnings from the game

11:45 - Bucks pack a mean counter

20:20 - Stopping the Freak

24:15 - Giannis AnteToronto

28:00 - Upcoming games