In Game One of a first-round and best-of-seven series between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat suffered a 107-109 overtime loss on Saturday. Taken out in the end by a well-defended and go-ahead jumper from Khris Middleton, with 0.5 seconds remaining — it ultimately lifted the Bucks to a 1-0 series advantage.
In wake of a, 56-24, advantage in points in the paint, Milwaukee made timely adjustments to capitalize off the Heat’s poor shooting, despite Miami converting on 20 of their 50 three-point attempts. It should also be noted that the Bucks finished with a 61-54 advantage in the rebounding department.
After such an excellent start in the first quarter, the Heat were gradually worn-down by such a tenacious Bucks defense, which began to trend upwards about halfway through the second quarter. Even while working themselves into the bonus with over five minutes remaining, the Heat just couldn’t ignite the type of run to create any kind of separation.
As many consider this one as an exciting open to the 2021 NBA Playoffs, it’s more appropriate to deem it as agonizing and palpable, especially for fans of either team. After having five days of rest, some shoddy shooting from both sides kept this game relatively close.
However and regardless of how the egg is flipped, sunny-side up or over-easy, the Bucks did what they were supposed to do. That’s protect their home floor in a game that was physical and gritty.
The Miami Heat go as Jimmy Butler does and on Saturday, he tried to do all he could.
Although this was, indeed, a preventable loss for Miami, they must bounce back from it in Game Two to avoid a 0-2 series deficit. The Heat will look to steal a game on the road on Monday and head back to the American Airlines Arena all tied up at 1-1.
And to look no further, much of those improvements will need to stimulate from the organization’s franchise leader, Jimmy Butler. Here’s what that means.
In a versatile and across-the-board type of performance, 17 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, props must be given to Butler for bringing a Get Rich or Die Tryin’ mentality. After leading Miami to the playoffs for the second consecutive year, HE was aggressive for the entire duration of this game, with 10 of Miami’s 19 total attempts at the free-throw line.
He did so while continuing to prove to the entire league that no matter what defense he goes up against, he’s going to find ways to produce — especially at this stage. However, this was undeniably, the most abysmal playoff shooting performance that Butler’s had since joining the Heat — and it was the ugly kind of dud.
The five-time All-Star had a a 4-22 night from the floor and shot 2-9 from outside. After attempting a barrage of perimeter jump-shots, Jimmy was determined to find his range, as he continued to play right into the hands of the Bucks.
While it’s a promising sign to have your team’s best player play with confidence, it’s important to recognize when it just isn’t your night. To have teammates such as Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, who combined for 49 points and 12-23 on three-pointers, the better option is to defer to them when they’re hot, for which Jimmy normally excels at.
The Miami Heat weren’t themselves, fully on Saturday, but you do have to give the Bucks a bit of credit too.
To Milwaukee’s credit though, they took the appropriate measures of defending Butler throughout Game One. Along with dropping back into zone coverage, they gave him all the space he needed to shoot.
The Bucks were also able to rotate on his drives and throw bodies at him — even committing some dangerously-hard fouls. Milwaukee also had other contributors to Butler’s poor shooting night, as he was held scoreless when defended by Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and P.J. Tucker — who forced Butler into 0-6 shooting, including two well-contested mid-range jumpers in the first half.
A highlight of Milwaukee’s defense occurred within the final 16.9 seconds of regulation. This was a play that saw the Bucks force a late-game turnover on Butler while he was in-pursuit of one of his signature drives.
A cut-off from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league’s reigning Defensive Player of The Year, caused Butler to lose his balance as he placed the ball on the floor with no open teammate in sight. Just seconds later, a jump-ball opportunity was called.
Also and just moments after a Heat timeout a little later, Butler had the ball with eight seconds remaining and Antetokounmpo defending. He executed a buzzer-beating layup to send the game into overtime.
The Miami Heat dropped Game One, but there should still be faith and a ton of hope about Game Two.
Despite the late-game heroics, Butler missed all five of his three-point attempts in both the fourth quarter and overtime periods combined — including an ill-advised and contested pull-up jumper early in the shot-clock, while both teams were tied at 90 with 5:10 remaining.
Butler commented on his shooting woes in Game One. He, essentially, promise better nights ahead:
"“Taking what they are giving,” Butler told Ira Winderman via Sun Sentinel. “I may shoot nine next game, as well. They’ll fall. I know that. Get in there, work on some touch. I’m cool.” “I think that’s on me.” I’ve got to do a better job of attacking downhill, forcing some tough help, and getting the ball to the perimeter.”"
In hindsight, it simply unfair to place the entire blame on Butler for this loss or on any single Heat player, for that matter. For Jimmy though, this performance obviously has to be considered one to only keep a short-memory of, but it’s one he has to learn from.
This, slightly-tweaked, yet still-improved Bucks team has proven themselves to still be very beatable. The Miami Heat still have to get it done though and that does start with Butler.
Butler is no stranger to letting his teammates have their shot opportunities and we should see more of that unselfish play in Game Two. Well, also and as long as he doesn’t have his second worst shooting game of his career, the Heat should be fine.