THE Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks will be playing the long game when they square off on Thursday as well as chasing immediate rewards.
To the winner goes the immediate leadership of an Eastern Conference which now has the feeling of a two-horse race. Handy bragging rights.
But with the Bucks coming out on top in the first two meetings between these sides before the Raps claimed the third, the head-to-head tiebreaker is on the line.
With so little separating the rivals, victory for Milwaukee could be mightily useful when the regular season reaches its conclusion, something to ponder as they remain immensely good value at 4.50 to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
Put 'em on notice.#FearTheDeer | #Giannis pic.twitter.com/p4ViZs1JwZ
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 31, 2019
To date, each prior duel has been wildly different. Bucks by 13 in the first. By five in the second. Canada’s finest by seven in a high scoring shootout in Game 3, when 30 points apiece from Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam offset a mammoth haul of 43 points and 18 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Consistency, for both, has been easily found. Milwaukee are 24-7 against their own conference, the Raps 22-9. And while the Bucks are 9-1 over their last nine games, Toronto has won ten straight home games since a loss to – who else? – the Bucks, despite the injury-enforced absence of Jonas Valenciunas.
What swings into the Raptors’ favour over the longer-term is the potential to improve. Still a decent punt at 3.00 for the Conference crown, they will profit from the eventual return of their Lithuanian centre while OG Anunoby’s inclusion following a brief hiatus adds extra firepower.
Add to that the internal impetus to make statements, such as winning their division, conference and, ultimately, a title, to improve their chances of retaining Leonard come his free agency in the summer, and there is every incentive for Toronto to keep pushing for every available gain.
Nick Nurse talks Luka, and includes what is very much a detail a coach would notice: “Probably the coolest thing is the velocity at which he passes. He’ll be going down the right side of the floor, and that thing will be on a line right to the shooter, like a 200 mph fastball.” pic.twitter.com/76gjRWs2xY
— Reese Konkle (@RKonkle_Mavs) January 27, 2019
Including one for their rookie head coach Nick Nurse. If the Bucks win on Thursday, it will be Mike Budenholzer who will coach Team Antetokounmpo in next month’s NBA All-Star Game.
Should the Raptors claim victory, Nurse could still pinch the honour if his team win against the Clippers on Sunday and Milwaukee loses 24 hours earlier against the Wizards. A long shot. Either way, someone who once played on the courts of Britain will be suited up in Charlotte for the annual showcase of stars.
That could also swing a few votes in the Coach of the Year stakes where Budenholzer is the 2.25 favourite and Nurse back at 5.50.
We live in a world where ppl call this overrated !!!!#FearTheBeard#harden#mvp pic.twitter.com/MTQ3oGfJ20
— A.Galadary (@galadary_) January 27, 2019
And, of course, success for the Bucks helps the MVP cause for Antetokounmpo who has been usurped by James Harden who has rocketed down to 1.45 fave for the honour on the back of his sensational scoring streak. The Greek Freak is now out to 4.00. Harsh, and potentially worth a look at this juncture.
All of which illustrates the high stakes which underline a single regular season clash in midweek in Toronto.
The hosts, who have scored at least 119 points in four of their last five, are best value at -4 at 2.12 with the Bucks 2.18 for a win that would count for so much.
Best bet: Take Toronto by -2.5 and Over 229.5 total points at 3.70.
The groin injury sustained by LeBron James on Christmas Day has heavily weighed on the Los Angeles Lakers.
6-11 in his absence, the Lakers have dropped out of the playoff placings and would not quite return even if they overhaul the LA Clippers, who sit eighth in the Conference standings, on Thursday.
Whether James will be available once again for the derby duel is questionable but it is all the more urgent following the additional injuries sustained by Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.
And on Saturday, the Lakers face the mission improbable of knocking the Golden State Warriors off their stride with the champions 1.26 to blow off the 76ers and welcome their Californian rivals off the back of a 12-game winning streak.
Adding DeMarcus Cousins has coincided with an extra uptick for the Dubs who are worth backing at -7.5, regardless of who arrives from LA.. The Lakers need LeBron back, and at his best.
