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SPORTS Tuesday 14 May 2019
Leonard, Raptors to face Bucks, Antetokounmpo in East final

By IAN HARRISON Leonard and the Raptors first two rounds.
TORONTO (AP) — For the will have a few hours to en- "It's a little different style
second time in four sea- joy it; the conference final that we're going to see,"
sons, the Toronto Raptors begin Wednesday night in Nurse said. "We're going to
are headed to the Eastern Milwaukee. In its only other have to adjust to that really
Conference final. conference final appear- quickly, obviously, and for-
While the Raptors won't ance, Toronto lost to LeBron get about how happy we
have to deal with playoff James and Cleveland in six are pretty quickly because
nemesis LeBron James this games in 2016. it's a hungry team. It's a
time, they will face a tough The Raptors are well aware very deep team, a very
task in controlling Milwau- of the challenge ahead. good team. We're going to
kee Bucks All-Star Giannis Toronto guard Kyle Lowry have to continue to grow
Antetokounmpo and the said the Bucks have been and we're going to have to
rest of the NBA's highest- "pretty dominant" in win- play better."
scoring offense. ning eight of nine postsea- Leonard scored 41 points
Of course, Toronto will son games — including the on 16-of-39 shooting in
counter with Kawhi Leon- past four straight. Game 7 against Philadel-
ard. "They've got a lot of weap- phia. He topped 30 points
He hit the game-winning ons and they're pretty five times in the series and
buzzer-beater Sunday to deep," Lowry said. "They averaged 34.7 points over-
help Toronto edge Phila- shoot the ball as well as all.
delphia 92-90 in Game 7 anybody in the NBA and Nurse said Leonard has
of its Eastern Conference then they've got the one- been playing at an "elite
semifinal series, setting up man fast break in Giannis." level" in the postseason.
a showdown between the The Bucks beat the Raptors Toronto center Marc Gasol
East's top teams during the three times in four regular- agrees with his coach.
regular season. season meetings. Lowry Leonard "can create a shot
Leonard's shot bounced was injured when Toronto out of pretty much noth-
around the rim four times won 123-116 at Milwaukee ing," Gasol said. "He's a mis-
before dropping through on Jan.5. match all around."
the basket. "We know we've got a In Antetokounmpo, the
"It was great," Leonard tough task at hand," Lowry Bucks have a similar match-
said. "That's something I said. "We have to prepare up nightmare for Toronto.
never experienced before, for it and get ready to go." The Raptors will need con-
Game 7, a game-winning Toronto coach Nick Nurse tributions for everyone, in- Associated Press
shot. It was a blessing to be said the Bucks present cluding Lowry — who brief- entire second half. said. "I'm fine."
able to get to that point challenges his team hasn't ly left Game 7 because of "I couldn't really pass the Milwaukee has been resting
and make that shot and faced in eliminating Orlan- a sprained left thumb but ball and grip the ball, but since eliminating Boston in
feel that moment." do and Philadelphia in the returned and played the that doesn't matter," Lowry Game 5 on Wednesday.q

Continued from Page 17 NBA assistants. Cleveland felt very strongly about this
"John is one of the most is expected to surround new and exciting opportu-
accomplished and innova- Beilein with an experienced nity with the Cavaliers. ... I
tive basketball minds and staff, and it's possible the love the position the team
leaders in the entire game. team will hire one of the is in to build and grow and
He has a unique ability to other candidates as an as- this was something I felt was
create an outstanding cul- sociate head coach. the perfect fit for me."
ture that will promote the It took him nearly a de- Beilein, who is 829-468
development of young cade, but Cavs owner Dan (.639) as a college coach,
players and provide a solid Gilbert finally landed a col- inherits a young Cleveland
structure to the entire pro- lege coach from Michigan. team that includes All-Star
gram; not to mention the Gilbert, who went to Michi- forward Kevin Love, point
fact that John Beilein wins gan State, had made an guard Collin Sexton —
everywhere he goes." unsuccessful overture to who's coming off a strong
From Nazareth College to Spartans coach Tom Izzo in In this March 27, 2019 file photo Michigan head coach John rookie season — forward
LeMoyne to Canisius, Rich- 2009, and has now plucked Beilein speaks during a news conference at the NCAA college Larry Nance Jr. and guard
mond, West Virginia and Beilein from his alma ma- basketball tournament in Anaheim, Calif. Jordan Clarkson.
finally to Michigan, Beilein ter's biggest rival. Associated Press Cleveland's roster will get
has built a strong reputa- "We could not be more a major upgrade in next
tion for developing young thrilled to name John work to do in Cleveland. meeting with Detroit and month's draft, and if the
players and teams. He's Beilein as the new coach The Cavs are coming off Orlando before choosing pingpong balls bounce
one of only four coaches of the Cleveland Cava- a stormy 19-63 season that to stay in Ann Arbor, where their way again in the lot-
to take four schools to the liers," Gilbert said. "First, followed LeBron James' de- he managed to make bas- tery, the Cavs could wind
NCAA Tournament, and he John is a great human be- parture for Los Angeles as ketball more than just a up with Duke All-American
leaves Michigan with the ing. He cares deeply about a free agent last summer. passing diversion between Zion Williamson, who elec-
most wins in school history. his players and others who Just six games in, the team football seasons. trified college hoops as a
The deal with Beilein came work for him and around fired Tyronn Lue, the only "We shared some of the freshman.
together quickly in the past him. ... John is a brilliant Cleveland coach or man- best moments of my life The Cavs will have a 14 per-
24 hours and was finalized basketball mind and last ager to win a major sports together and I will always cent chance at getting the
Sunday after the Cavs had but not least, John Beilein is championship since 1964. be grateful for that," Beilein No. 1 overall pick, which
spent the weekend in Den- a winner." Beilein had entertained said about his time at Mich- they've had three times
ver interviewing several Beilein knows he has to NBA offers in the past, igan. "At the same time, I since 2011. q