Backs to the wall for Giannis and the bucks can they respond?
Giannis is great but I haven't seen that closer mentality from him like I see in Kawhi. They could win the next game close with Middleton or Lopez, but I don't see him closing out as the main option in crunch time.
I’m not sure it’s his mentality as much as it’s lack of skills. He pretty much just charges to the rim regardless of who is in front of him and there is generally contact and he generally gets the calls even though he is creating the contact. Kawhi is such a smart, complete player. His body doesn’t seem as lively as it used to but it doesn’t matter because he’s so skilled.
Giannis definitely has some limitations when he's unable to overpower the opposing players. Gasol, Kawhi and Siakam have defended him well and he's struggled to pass effectively out of double teams the last couple of games. It doesn't help that his teammates have been bricking shots as well. Kawhi is not as physically dominant but has a more complete game, he can score from all over the court, he can pass out of double teams, he maintains his composure a lot better. Giannis needs to develop some more variety to his game, he's shot the 3 reasonably well this postseason but they often feel more like flukes than a sign of real improvement. If he can continue his rate into the regular season next year, and maybe adds a stepback, which Kawhi uses to great effect when he drives and attracts a double team, then he becomes much more lethal.
That said, Raptors don't win tonight if not for Fred VanVleet. You need your supporting players to score and Middleton and the Bucks bench have been dismal the last couple of games.