Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Monday, April 24th, the Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Toronto Raptors in game five of their Eastern Conference playoff series.  The series is tied (2-2).

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Raptors 102.5 – Bucks 98.6 with an over/under of 201.1.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Raptors +4.3 (5^th) > Bucks -0.2 (tied for 16^th)

Points per game: Raptors 106.9 (10^th) > Bucks 103.6 (20^th)

Points allowed per game: Raptors 102.6 (8^th) > Bucks 103.8 (9^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Bucks 47.4% (4^th) > Raptors 46.4% (11^th)

Three Point Percentage: Bucks 37.0% (10^th) > Raptors 36.3% (13^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Raptors 44.9 (6^th) > Bucks 45.8% (17^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Raptors 11.8 (4^th) > Bucks 13.4 (tied for 18^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Raptors 14.0 (tied for 9^th) = Bucks 14.0 (tied for 9^th)

Rebounds per game: Raptors 43.3 (18^th) > Bucks 40.4 (29^th)

Assists per game: Bucks 24.2 (5^th) > Raptors 18.5 (30^th)

Summary:

The series in now tied at two games apiece with each team winning once on the road.  Toronto is averaging 88.5 in the four games while Milwaukee is averaging 94.3.  The Raptors are one of three teams in the NBA that finished top ten both defensively and offensively.  Raptors head coach Dwane Casey made a bold move in game four swapping out big man Jonas Valanciunas for guard Norman Powell.  The move paid big dividends as Toronto improved their perimeter defense and held Milwaukee to just 76 points.  Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo shot just 6 of 19 and turned the ball over 7 times in game four.  After a slow start to the series, Raptors guard Demar Derozen was a force in game four scoring a game high 33 points.  Milwaukee is one of the better defensive teams but they need Giannis to play great to pull out another win on the road.  I like Toronto’s guards to lead them to victory at home in game five.

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