2017 NBA Playoffs: 5 reasons why Toronto Raptors will bounce back to beat the Milwaukee Bucks

4. The Raptors have the better starting lineup

Each one of Toronto’s starters, except for one, position by position, are better than the Bucks’ starters. Other than Giannis, the Raptors’ top five outshines the Bucks’ top five. Lowry is a more complete player than Brogdon or Dellavedova. DeRozan edges out Khris Middleton. DeMarre Carroll is a better overall player than Tony Snell. And Valanciunas is better than Thon Maker, and probably better than Greg Monroe. Toronto’s starters need to take care of business for the 30+ minutes that they are each on the floor. They need to take advantage of their experience and skill.

The problem is the Raptors’ bench. No offense to Patterson, Tucker, and Cory Joseph, but the Bucks’ bench is just too athletic and too feisty. Dellavedova and Greg Monroe come off the bench to give leadership and energy. Monroe grabbed 15 rebounds and looked unstoppable in Game 1. Dellavedova’s impact does not often show up on the stat sheet, but he is a defensive menace for Lowry and DeRozan. The Bucks are young and athletic. They likely will only play a seven-man rotation but the Raptors need to win the minutes their starters are on the floor.