When the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors got underway in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it appeared that Raptors star forward Kawhi Leonard was going to embark on yet another prolific series. Leonard had scored 29 points through the first three quarters and was getting to the free-throw line at will. But in the fourth quarter, the Bucks would take Leonard out of the game completely, holding him to 0 of 3 shooting from the field and just two points in the final 12 minutes. While Giannis Antetokounmpo himself scored 24 points and added 14 rebounds and six assists, he was quick to credit teammates Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton for their defense on Leonard, telling Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
“He is the focal point of their offense, and they did a great job just sending him left,” Antetokounmpo said of Middleton and Brogdon defending (Kawhi) Leonard. “He’s trying to go right and get to his spot and rise up or go all the way.
“We’re trying to make it as tough as we can, and in the fourth quarter it was tough for him. I think we made him feel us the whole game. That’s what we were trying to do as a team, trying to make him play one against five.”
Brogdon missed Milwaukee's first nine playoff games, but his size and defensive ability offer head coach Mike Budenholzer yet another weapon to unleash on Leonard, while Middleton's length provides an entirely different look.
The Bucks will not be able to hold Leonard down forever, but they seem to ratchet up the defensive intensity when they need stops.
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