TORONTO _ This was the Toronto Raptors' nightmare in Game 1 of the playoffs on Saturday: Giannis Antetokounmpo coming at them with those giant strides on the break.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey said his team simply has to do a better job of slowing down the Greek Freak in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Antetokounmpo scored nine baskets in the paint in the Bucks' 97-83 victory over the Raptors as sixth-seeded Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.
"We were taking negative steps going toward the basket instead of getting back," Casey said after the Raptors' practice session Sunday at the BioSteel Centre. "You know what freight train is coming down the road, so you've got to turn and sprint back.
"Make sure you have every man available. Our philosophy here from Day 1 is never to go to the offensive boards. There's no reason for our wings to be going into the paint.
"You might think you're going to get that ball, but you're going to give up something on the other end."
Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 28 points and was 9 of 12 on shots in the paint, 4 for 4 from mid-range and 0 of 2 on three-pointers. His dunks and layups helped the Bucks set the pace for a huge road victory.
Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry said Antetokounmpo is one of the top three or four players in the league in transition, comparing him with Russell Westbrook and LeBron James.
P.J. Tucker, one of the primary Toronto defenders against Antetokounmpo, said the 6-foot-11 Bucks forward is unique in the way he attacks the basket.
"He can exploit angles probably better than any player in the league right now," Tucker said. "He's almost like a Russell Westbrook that can blow up and really get into the paint fast.
"He's one step from being able to dunk the ball almost anywhere on the court. You've got to cut angles and play him straight up.
"And they're good; (Matthew) Dellavedova is one of the best screeners in the NBA and he screens for the angle. That's all he (Antetokounmpo) needs is one angle, and there are not a lot of people that can get to the rim as fast and as easy as he can."
The Bucks had 17 fast-break points to 4 for Toronto in Game 1, and Milwaukee scored 28 points in transition and 40 points in the paint.
It's the way the Bucks have thrived all season.
"We have to do a better job in transition and taking away those easy-sweat points they were getting," Casey said. "Or allowing Antetokounmpo to go 1-on-1 with whoever is back.
"Those are the type of plays where a guy like that gets his confidence, and he did a great job of attacking."
Tucker, DeMarre Carroll and Patrick Patterson are the three players the Raptors have designated to be Giannis-stoppers. Casey said DeMar DeRozan will guard Khris Middleton at the start of games, but Toronto will also look to have Tucker and Carroll match up against Antetokounmpo and Middleton when both are on the floor together.
"They did a good job," Casey said. "They outworked us; they out-physicaled us, they out-screened us. That's what we showed the guys on film this morning. To win in this league, we've got to play at another level.
"They cut us; they ran us. They were flexing their muscles. Everything they wanted to do; they got it done."
Casey admitted Antetokounmpo is a major challenge to handle, even if the Raptors do get back in scramble mode with more urgency.
"He's right there at the top because he's so long and he comes with such force," Casey said. "You've got to get back and have bodies in front of him.
"He did a good job of attacking the rim, of getting to where he wanted to go with the fewest steps possible.
"But we made it easy for him. He made some great plays with one stride to the rim. But still, he saw a four-lane highway down there a few times."
