After a long season filled with Covid, injury, and only 72 days off, the Miami Heat are finally back in the playoffs and against a familiar foe. The Milwaukee Bucks are that opponent, but this time, it’s in the 1st round.
We all know what happened last year in the bubble but this year there is no bubble. With that, people are still calling last year’s Miami Heat team the “bubble frauds” because they cant explain how Miami went on an incredible run.
But, last year’s run is in the pass. This year, both teams have new players and some new scheme’s.
A lot of people are saying Milwaukee is deeper than last year, which I would agree with but Miami is too. We all know that playoff basketball is different and Miami’s Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra, was made for the playoffs.
Can we say the same thing for Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach, Mike Budenholzer? Let’s be honest, last season the Miami Heat punched the Milwaukee Bucks right in the mouth.
That seems to still be lingering in the back of Milwaukee’s mind. Now, I am not saying that I am a therapist by any means but you can’t tell me that the returning players on that team don’t remember that defeat.
The Miami Heat dropped Game One to the Bucks, but they can still take the series.
Just look at the way they played in Game One. If not for one of the worst shooting games of Jimmy Butler‘s career, the Bucks are already down one game on their home floor and absent of home court advantage.
If you’re Milwaukee, you can either dwell on the past or move on from it. As illustrated in Game One and though, again in defeat, Miami isn’t scared of them… or any team for that matter.
One thing that hasn’t been talked about that much, but was sort of illustrated in Game One, is that Kendrick Nunn is the X-factor for this series. Remember, last year in the bubble, Nunn had covid and wasn’t the same player.
In his last game against Milwaukee, last week to be precise, Nunn scored 31 points and most of the time, he plays well against Milwaukee. Nunn has a good pace in the pick and roll, especially when he gets to his spots in the mid-range.
Nunn should make a living with his mid-range and especially against Milwaukee’s drop scheme. If Nunn gets going, then Jrue Holiday is going to eventually be put on him, which would lead to him leaving Butler to have an easier matchup to go against.
Also, with Nunn being a better defender than credited for being, he will give Miami more minutes on the floor. If it’s not broke, then don’t fix it if you’re Miami defensively.
The Miami Heat will have to re-form that wall for Giannis Antetokounmpo if they plan to beat Milwaukee.
Form a wall against Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yes, Antetokounmpo is a pretty good passer off the double, but Milwaukee doesn’t have that many plus shooters, as indicative by their horrid start from three on Saturday, so its worth the risk if you are Miami to send doubles while forming a wall.
I really don’t think it matters who guards who this series and while certain matchups will matter, Miami switches everything, so if your them you just try and win your matchup on whoever you guarding. That’s because Bam Adebayo, Trevor Ariza and Butler will be guarding the whole perimeter at times.
Ariza will be used in that Jae Crowder role but he is not as strong as Crowder, though faster, so Miami will have to use him in different ways but its nothing coach Spoelstra cant handle. Duncan Robinson is going to continue to be huge for Miami at both ends.
We all know the spacing that Robinson gives Miami, even though he struggled last year against Milwaukee. As seen on Saturday, he is still the ultimate threat and especially if Butler can get it going.
Throw in a bit of Adebayo getting down hill more and all Robinson needs to do is to continue to knock down his open jumpers. Another thing that I like about Robinson this year is that he has been a better defender.
The Miami Heat will not only have to defend the Freak, but everyone else too.
More recently, Robinson showed flashes defending Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, and also showed similar chops against Khris Middleton in Game One, which will be huge for Miami if he can keep it up. The same stands for Tyler Herro.
He’s going back home, so this likely going to be big for him. The state of Wisconsin has been attacking him since he opted out of going to college at Wisconsin to choose Kentucky.
So, this year, he’s going to play in Milwaukee as a pro in the playoffs with a chip on his shoulder. I would dare to bet that he has one game where he just, flat-out, goes off.
Moving towards a close and if the question was what would the Miami Heat get from Goran Dragic this postseason, then Game One should be a great answer. Plainly speaking, he is a gamer and may have more than one postseason left in him if he can keep this up.
As seen on Saturday, Dragic is another one who can hurt Milwaukee in the pick and roll. He will need to keep it up to continue to give Miami a shot.
Personally, I think the East is still wide open for Miami to be the the skunk at the garden party. This team isn’t scared of anyone and with Butler at the head of the snake, you have to like Miami’s chance against almost everyone
Here’s to showing you the faith still have in this team. When it comes to a prediction and even with a Game One defeat, it’s still Miami in six games.