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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
Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21)(Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports) /

In his first season with the Bucks, Jrue Holiday averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 assists. And while it was his lowest scoring output since the 2016-17 season, it’s been his most efficient year shooting the ball — with career-highs of 50 percent from the field and 39 percent from outside the arc.

HOLIDAY IS THE TRUE ‘X FACTOR’ FOR MILWAUKEE.

Holiday is considered, by many, as the best defender in the league, holding a nightly responsibility of defending the opposing team’s best scorer. While his lateral quickness and timing are impeccable, Miami should expect Holiday to switch onto multiple players in this series, including Adebayo, as Holiday is more-than-capable of denying larger players in the post.

Holiday is an unquestionable X-Factor in this series. However, Holiday’s shot-creating and playmaking abilities continue to be overlooked, as he’s not just a lockdown defender.

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With an uncanny ability to get to any spot on the floor, this gives the Bucks a legitimate third-option in this series. In the Bucks’ first meeting against Miami in December, Holiday scored 24 points and added seven assists while shooting 6-10 from three, en route to a 47-point win over the Heat.

PLEASE CLOSE-OUT ON BROOK LOPEZ!

For those who watched even a portion of last year’s series, Brook Lopez was absolutely lethal against the Heat defense. While drawing a few four-point plays and scoring in the low-post, Lopez was one of Milwaukee’s few bright spots during the Semi-Finals.

As the Bucks’ third leading-scorer, he averaged 18.2 points, shot 13-for-28 from three, and finished with a True-Shooting Percentage of 65 percent in the second round. While developing insanely-deep range over the years, Lopez has remained as on of the Bucks’ primary floor spacers, while Antetokounmpo and others can penetrate to do their work inside.

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