Bucks Raptors series: what are the factors that affect the trend of the game in the end?

So, is Alphabet being guarded by Leonard?

This question may be a bit abrupt, but after the Bucks made two straight, the Raptors changed their matchups, letting Leonard main-guard Alphabet and letting Siakam keep an eye on Bledsoe, so the Bucks, who had been arrogant and domineering in the first two games, were suddenly in trouble, falling in three straight sets by the Raptors and being pushed to the brink for the first time on their home court.

That's a more mainstream statement, and I'm one of those more non-mainstream people.

It's easy to put a whole series change down to a simple, brutal change in matchups as if switching Leonard to Alphabet and Siakam to Bledsoe would explain the miraculous "dragon lift". It's as if we're giving Vucevic and Embiid all the credit for their poor play to Gasol Jr. and blaming Irving for the Celtics being swept by the gentlemen.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg of the real game, 7 games 4 wins long playoffs, countless tactical targeting and adjustment, five people on the field to five people's game and betting, affecting the game of too many factors, never just a certain person and a certain group of pairs. The simplest example, is the third game of the overtime battle, if the Bucks can continue their proud rebounding level, and more protection under a few backcourts rebounds, why not let the Raptors get the game point?

This "if" is too much, each "if" is like a butterfly's wings, enough to change the existing ending, if the Bucks take the third game, now I will still be here to say loudly knock out "letters If the Bucks really take the third game, now I will still be here to knock out the "letters of the alphabet was Leonard defended" such words?

I think this is the biggest lesson this series has taught me - in addition to the book strength and ball style tactics, the player's state ups and downs, are the most important factor in a round of the series, who knew that Van Fleet's slump in the first few games because of the five-day flight to four cities just for the safe birth of a child? Who knew that the Bucks had just renewed their starting guard Bledsoe, who has shot only 28.8% so far in this series - even worse than Van Fleet?

After laying so much groundwork, I can finally lead to the question at the beginning - Alphabet is not being defended by Leonard, but by the entire Raptors team and his teammates.

Similarly, Leonard in the first two games was not defended by Middleton/Alphabet/ Brogdon but was trapped by the whole Bucks team and his teammates.

We all know that the Raptors have the league's top frontline defense, and they are very used to switching defenses on the defensive end, such as this round, where it was Danny Green as the first line of defense (and then deservedly broken by Alphabet in one step). But breaking Danny Green is only the first link in the Raptors' trap, as Leonard, Siakam, and Gasol Jr. clamp down as expected, almost trapping Alphabet in the box.

Alphabet Brother's distribution was not untimely, and his outside teammates were very quick to dispatch the pass to the bottom corner in a flash.

But, the complementary defense of Jr. Gasol followed like a shadow.

This is the contest and bet between the two teams, Alphabet knows that Raptors will pinch, and Raptors also know that Alphabet will distribute the ball, the two sides spell that little passing speed, accuracy, the accuracy of the perimeter shooters, and the execution of the defense's pinch, as well as the speed and discipline of the rotation of complementary defense.

On Leonard's side, the Bucks are equally resolute and thorough with his package, plus the Bucks' consistent squatting defensive strategy (the Bucks are number one in the league this year in terms of the number of open three-pointers scored by their opponents), the Raptors and Bucks are equally betting on Leonard's level of distribution and, more importantly - the open shooting ability of their Raptors teammates.

After all, for Leonard and Brother Alphabet, two tall forwards, open opportunities are almost blindly visible, but with this intensity of defense, it's a different matter if the ball can be passed to teammates in time and if they can successfully shoot.

Considering the same top defensive ability on both sides, the teammates around these two superstars are the real X-factors that sway the game.

So Leonard's first two games alone, the three-small lineup was nailed to the column of shame by the onlookers. And these two games and the turn of the alphabet brother powerless to return to the sky, the Bucks rely on the replacement lineup, scoring less than half of the opposite three small lineups.

But, look closely at these two motion pictures, and pay attention to the position of the letter brother and Leonard, what is the difference?

One is bursting deep into the box, being a multi-player all-around pinch; one is using the block to break through, attracting co-defense right at the perimeter.

Yes, I'm going to repeat that simple truth - how important it is for a star to cover the range to the three-point line.

The letter of the alphabet's conversion offense and breakthrough finishing ability are certainly rare in the world, but this "breakaway" style of play consumes physical strength, not to mention that the face of the Raptors such layers of the defensive system, break into the hinterland and then pinch, the four sides of the alphabet king is also difficult to smoothly distribute the ball in time/end.

In addition to the Bucks' defensive strategy of "letting go of some of the openings", as long as Lowry and Van Fleet's accuracy is slightly normal, it can completely shake the Bucks' defensive confidence. The Bucks' defensive confidence will be completely shaken.

Just like these last two games.

Leonard's full-range shooting threat, coupled with weak-side block cuts from Gasol Jr. and VanVleet, and Van Jordan's hand up off of Kapipon's distribution, put the momentum of the game back on the Raptors' side.

This is the biggest difference between Alphabet and Leonard, and also Alphabet's biggest obstacle at the moment - the playoffs are a cruel stage for infinite exposure of player weaknesses. Facing the average level of opponents, you can certainly use the unbeatable breakthrough and conversion offense to flush out the opponent's formation. But once you play in the playoffs, facing the same top defensive opponents, each of your characteristics is carefully studied and repeatedly watched, then your weaknesses will only be exposed more and more thoroughly.

In the final moments of G5, Coach Buden even replaced Alphabet off the court.

Like Ben Simmons, Alphabet began to take on more and more "blue-collar inside" duties in this series, giving up outside space and ball possession to his teammates. This is indeed a good way to cover up the shortcomings of the letter brother, but the letter brother, in the end, is still the main outside play, his breakthrough distribution and star four shots, are the basic plate of the Bucks' offense.

When the Raptors' defense gradually let the letter brother without the ball, blue-collar, when the letter brother's breakthrough distribution becomes more and more difficult, the Bucks others but can not provide timely support. Instead, Leonard was able to pull the Bucks' defense at will from half-court range, finally letting open shooters find a shooting rhythm after hitting iron again and again.

The ups and downs of the players on both sides of the state, in invisible magnified the difference in the ability of the two superstars, the letter brother breakthrough distribution, teammates can not give a response, will only make the Raptors clamping more reckless, forming a vicious circle; and Leonard blocking to attract clamping, teammates more and more accurate, will only make the Bucks defense more handicapped.

You know that before G3, this scenario is completely reversed.

So, it's not just Leonard who defends the alphabet, but also the Raptors' entire team's defense, their teammates' sluggish state, and, to this point, his fatal shortcomings that have finally been exposed.