Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors: Series Prediction, Odds For 2019 Eastern Conference Finals

It's only fitting that the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors will meet in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals. They were the NBA's two best teams during the regular season, led by the two best players in the East.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the likely NBA MVP, and he's carried his regular-season dominance over to his first lengthy playoff run. Kawhi Leonard has somehow been even better in the postseason, almost single-handedly carrying Toronto through two rounds.

This series won't simply be Antetokounmpo vs. Leonard. The superstars are both so good that they might essentially cancel each other out, leaving the fate of the East Finals in the hands of the two supporting casts.

If that's the case, Milwaukee has a major edge.

Antetokounmpo was certainly the Bucks’ best player when they defeated the Boston Celtics in five games last round, but he didn't beat Boston alone. He got plenty of help from the likes of Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and a bench that seems to provide a big game from a different player each night.

In Toronto's seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors offense’ could barely function if Leonard wasn't scoring or creating an open shot for one of his teammates. It's why he was forced to take 39 shots in Game 7, including his ridiculous buzzer-beater that set up this matchup with Milwaukee.

Leonard had a historic series, averaging 34.7 points per game on 54 percent shooting. He also averaged 9.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan ever scored more total points in any one playoff series.

Pascal Siakam was second on the team with 19.4 points per game, but he wasn't very efficient after a great series opener and was way too passive in the clincher. Kyle Lowry was his usual playoff self, having some good games but looking lost in others. No one else that got significant playing time even averaged 9.0 points per game or shot better than 42.4 percent from the field.

Antetokounmpo didn’t have to beat Boston alone. Maybe he could have, considering he averaged 28.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.

Middleton was second on the team with 19.2 points per game. He was the second of five Bucks that scored more than 10 points per game in the second round.

Malcolm Brogdon was not part of that group since he was only able to play the last game of the series because of a torn plantar fascia that cost him nearly two months. He’s ready to go against Toronto, making Milwaukee even deeper.

Brogdon is among the most underrated players in the NBA. He averaged 15.6 points per game in the regular season on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 42.6 percent shooting from three-point range.

Milwaukee’s role players proved night after night that they are ready to step up in big moments. Toronto’s non-stars, for the most part, can’t be counted on the same way in the playoffs.

The Bucks are a top offensive and defensive team. They were the NBA’s best regular-season team and have carried that into the postseason.

Milwaukee won’t be beaten by one player, no matter how great he might be.

Series Prediction: Milwaukee in six