The Toronto Raptors are looking to secure their first win in the Emirates NBA Cup this season as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, November 6.
The Raptors, who are currently 0-1 in the competition and are coming off of a 128-109 loss against the Denver Nuggets. Toronto has not been on great form, losing 3 of their last four and currently sit at 4-4.
For the Bucks, their start to the season has been poor as they enter this contest with a record of 1-7 and are on a four-game losing streak.
Both teams have work to do
The Raptors have had many issues to start their season off, mainly surrounding slow starts to games, while not being able to finish games. Perimeter defence has also been a problem.
There has also been massive vulnerability in the frontcourt and rebounding. While they’re strong on the offensive glass, their undersized or banged-up frontline has struggled to contain dominant opposing centres. With no true centre, the Raptors have struggled. They should be looking to make a trade for a well renowned centre to help them fix their issue there.
Not having Kawhi Leonard has also seemed to affect the Raptors, as there is now more pressure on Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett to carry the load.
For the Bucks, life without Giannis Antetokounmpo has been difficult. They are fielding a younger squad and are in a transitional period.
The core now features players acquired in recent moves, such as Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware from Miami, alongside veterans like Myles Turner and coach Doc Rivers (with assistant Darvin Ham) trying to install a new system.
General execution and youth consistency have also been issues early in the year, the young and reshaped rotation (including rookie Brayden Burries and Ryan Rollins) has struggled with late-game execution, shooting efficiency, and closing out tight contests.
Keys to the match
The key to this matchup lies in the battle for possession, where Toronto’s elite offensive rebounding and low turnover rates are heavily favoured to exploit Milwaukee’s 27th-ranked defence.
To stay competitive, the Bucks must rely on Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware to control the glass and prevent Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett from dominating the paint, while forcing Toronto into a perimeter shooting contest where they currently hit just 31.9 percent from deep.
Ultimately, if Milwaukee’s Tyler Herro and AJ Green can capitalize on high-efficiency looks from three-point range to offset Toronto’s relentless downhill physicality, the Bucks can mask their defensive deficiencies and stall the Raptors’ high-volume possession game.
This is a great time for the Bucks to win their second game of the year, as they face a Toronto side that has really struggled as of late.
For the Raptors, they poses as a great get back game as they try to get back on track this season and avoid falling under .500 for the first time.
