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Miami Heat: A Playoff Preview Of First Round Series Against Milwaukee Bucks

By Isiah Curry

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks loses control of the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks loses control of the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22)(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) /

The date was September 8th, 2020, when the Miami Heat eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Eight months later, a rematch between two of the Eastern Conference’s most competitive teams will happen in the first-round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

The sixth-seeded Heat will face the third-seeded Bucks, for what could potentially be the most intriguing matchup in the opening round. It was the first time since the 2009-10 season where a first-seeded team was eliminated in the second-round of the playoffs, dating back to when the two-seeded Boston Celtics defeated the one-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.

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However, last year’s Heat team wasn’t a second seed, nor were they your ordinary fifth seed. The Heat dismantled the Bucks in a very convincing fashion and their success was predicated in their communication, hustle, and relentlessness on defense, holding the top-ranked offensive team in the league to just 43 percent shooting.

A key highlight of Miami’s tremendous defense was in Game Three, where the Heat held Bucks superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to just 7-of-21 shooting to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. While the Bucks managed to avoid a series-sweep, an ankle injury held Antetokounmpo out of the second-half of Game Four and ultimately, the entirety of Milwaukee’s elimination in Game Five.

Those outstanding efforts on Giannis should primarily be credited to Heat Center Bam Adebayo, Andre Iguodala, and Jae Crowder, who Miami lost in free agency to the Phoenix Suns after acquiring the veteran Forward at the 2020 Trade Deadline.

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