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

2. The Raptors owned the Bucks in the regular season

The Raptors went 3-1 against the Bucks in the regular season. The Raptors won by 6, 22, and 16 before losing by seven in Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back. In the 16-point win in January, the Bucks were four games under .500, and the Raptors were eleven games above. Back then, the Bucks started four players who are no longer starters, one of which is injured again (Jabari Parker). The Raptors, conversely, had a pretty similar starting lineup; this game was just before the Ross/Ibaka trade.

Does that mean the Bucks figured it out? Absolutely not. The Bucks biggest weakness is rebounding. Greg Monroe came alive in Game 1, but do no expect that to be the norm. The Bucks lost four out of their last six games. At one point, the Bucks were eight games below .500, as recently as Feb. 10. The Raptors, conversely, ended the season on a high note. After dominating the entire year, the Raptors best record came on the last day of the regular season, pushing them to 20 games over .500, even with the Cavaliers. The Raptors went 10-5 in March and 5-1 in April. The Raptors finished the regular season with the highest point differential in the Eastern Conference at +4.2, while the Bucks tied for the second lowest of any playoff team with -0.2.