Bucks Still -650 Favorites To Win Eastern Conference Final Despite Game 3 Loss To Raptors
- The Toronto Raptors won Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference final 118-112 over the Milwaukee Bucks
- The Bucks lead the series 2-1 and remain -650 favorites to win the set
- The Raptors have never rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to win a playoff series
The Toronto Raptors worked double overtime for a 118-112 decision over the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference final.
In the process, the Raptors clawed their way back into the series.
Or did they?
While the win certainly impressed Toronto’s fan base and gave the TV networks even more excuses to show rapper and Raptors superfan Drake on the sidelines, it did little to sway the sportsbooks.
Drake and Gucci Mane tonight in Toronto at the Raptors vs. Bucks game. pic.twitter.com/VlaWOX2EWH
— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) May 20, 2019
Milwaukee is still listed as the -650 chalk to take the series. That’s only a slight decrease from the odds the Bucks has to win the Eastern Conference final after their Game 2 win.
Updated Bucks vs Raptors Series Price
| Team | 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Final Odds |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | -650 |
| Toronto Raptors | +425 |
*Odds taken May 20
The Bucks’ odds to win the series after they took a 2-0 lead was set at -850.
Raptors’ Eastern Title Hopes Getting Bad Rap?
Toronto’s chances of winning the Eastern Conference title and advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history have improved slightly. The Raptors were +635 to capture this series after losing the first two games at Milwaukee.
That was a foreboding beginning for them, however. The Raptors have never rallied to win a playoff series when trailing the series 2-0.
Historically, teams that go up 2-0 in NBA playoff series win almost 94% of the time. Teams are 51-5 (91.1%) when taking a 2-0 lead in the conference finals, and 287-20 (93.5%) when gaining that advantage in any playoff series.
Kawhi And The Owies
The Raptors were clearly in survival mode in Game 3, recognizing that even though being down 2-0 made a series win unlikely, falling behind 3-0 would make overcoming the disadvantage insurmountable.
The problem for Toronto may also be the Raptors’ greatest asset, guard Kawhi Leonard. He scored 36 points and yet again, carried the team on his back.
He’s scored at least 31 points in every game of the series. But if the Raptors want to ascend this mountain top, Leonard needs help.
Entering Game 3, Toronto was shooting only 52.1 effective field goal percentage on uncontested shots since the start of the Philadelphia series.
Kawhi got Bucks defenders crashing into each other ?
(via @Raptors)pic.twitter.com/SSumSNgpFa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2019
The Raptors were the NBA’s second-best team (68.1 percent eFG) at uncontested attempts during regular-season play. In Game 3, they had an effective field goal percentage of 66.7.
Bucks Won’t Stop Here
Toronto took advantage of an off night for Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3, but in the long run, Milwaukee has the depth to offset such occurrences.
In Game 2, five Bucks beyond the Greek Freak hit for double digits.
This Giannis Eurostep is INSANE ?
(via @Bucks)pic.twitter.com/OmcP30iGhA
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 20, 2019
That was Toronto’s M.O. in Game 3. Four players besides Leonard scored at least 11 points.
But that’s been the exception rather than the rule for Toronto. Milwaukee has more depth. Playing double OT will only exacerbate that disadvantage for Toronto.
See you Tuesday.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Pv1MZCRZBd
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 20, 2019
Milwaukee still rules the East.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
