The Miami Heat weren’t even there best selves on Monday… Bucks should note it

The Miami Heat took care of Giannis and his Bucks Monday night. Heat fans can take solace, while Bucks can take note, they weren’t even at their best.

The Miami Heat handled their business on Monday night. In a series that was sure to be a cage match from Game One’s opening tip to the final game’s ending buzzer, the Miami Heat came out and landed the first blow.

Jimmy Butler was the head of the spear for the Heat on Monday. He played Jimmy Butler and Miami Heat defense, while I can’t even begin to imagine who’s offense he was playing with!

We kid. Although Jimmy has struggled with his shot this season, his first in Miami, this is on par with the rest of his time everywhere else in the league.

That is that do what needs to be done quality that has made Jimmy Butler who he is. If you need him to defend the opposing best player, sure, he can do that.

If you need him to be your creator and facilitator, he can do that too. If you need him to be your best rebounder, by golly, he can do that do.

On Monday night, the Miami Heat needed him to score and he did just that. He knew what was going on though as well, as the word after the game was that he had told his teammates that he was not passing the ball.

It brings a tear to our eye. A superstar of the highest order, molded in the Miami Heat’s image, doing it as big as possible on the biggest stage there is. You just love to see it.

The Miami Heat got the victory on Monday, but they weren’t even firing on all cylinders. Here’s why that’s a good thing for them and the Bucks should take note.

Here’s the thing though and even among a Jimmy Butler pyrotechnics show, the Miami Heat weren’t at their best.

They are at their best when their resident sniper, Duncan Robinson, is firing on all cylinders. Most of the time he is, but Monday, he just wasn’t.

Going 1/4 from the field, most of the time that means he went 1-4 from deep, as that’s where most of his shots come from. The Bucks were stuck to him at all times, but they won’t be able to keep it up, they just won’t be.

As they adjust to stop other things, the gaps will get wider for Duncan. Inevitably, he’ll ignite and as soon as next game, he just has to as he is a great shooter. It hasn’t been a fluke at all this season.

He’s been doing it at a high level all year and from time to time, he does have off nights but following an off night, he typically comes back with a vengeance. Here’s a recent example.

He went 2/8 in Game One against the Pacers. What did he do the next game?

He only came out and went 7/8 from the field, all from deep of course. That’s what we mean.

Unless he is hitting and therefore, presenting the threat of him hitting, then the Miami Heat aren’t at full strength. You can’t count on him having an awful night every night if you’re the Bucks.

That’ll get you beat, but it might not matter either way. That’s how we know that the Miami Heat weren’t even there best selves on Monday and with that, that the Bucks should note it.