It’s no secret that most of the Miami Heat roster needs to step up their play if they have any chance of coming back against Milwaukee. These three players specifically need to play better in hopes of Miami coming out on top in Game 4.
Kendrick Nunn
Everyone thought that Kendrick Nunn was returning to his rookie season form at the end of this year’s regular season, with hopes that it would translate into the first round of the playoffs. After three games, Nunn has essentially become a non-factor in this series.
He has scored a total of 23 points in three games, while shooting 35 percent from the field. In Game 3, Nunn was replaced in the starting lineup by veteran guard and key Miami Heat reserve, Goran Dragic.
Nunn is also coming up on an offseason where the Heat may not be inclined to re-sign him. He’s certainly not making a great case to stay in Miami with his play thus far.
If the Heat are going to create a spark on offense, Nunn needs to get in a rhythm soon.
Tyler Herro
All the Miami Heat fans that thought Tyler Herro would replicate his 2020 NBA Playoffs performance are kicking themselves right now. With the limited amount of minutes that Herro has gotten off the bench, he hasn’t flashed a lot of dominance in these first three games.
The Miami Heat have been less than impressive throughout their first three playoff games. Here are three players who need to step up.
Like Nunn, he’s only scored 23 points in three games and is shooting sits at an awful 26 percent from the field. In last year’s playoffs, Herro averaged 16 points on 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.
Coach Spoelstra could be to blame for the lack of time Herro’s been on the court, but there’s no argument that the sophomore guard needs to step up his play. Though slim at this point, if the Miami Heat want to have any shot at playing a Game 5, at the very least, then Tyler Herro needs to start playing better immediately.
Jimmy Butler
Lets just say that Jimmy Buckets hasn’t quite been living up to that nickname as of late. Butler seemed to be locked in before the start of the playoffs, but has yet to show real superstar ability in this first round matchup against Milwaukee.
His highest scoring game came in the Heat’s most recent 29-point loss on their own home court, where he dropped 19 points on 7-17 shooting from the field. Fans have yet to see Jimmy get aggressive and take over games.
His shooting from the field and the three-point line has been atrocious. Jimmy is shooting just 33 percent from the field and 24 percent from the three, which have put him in the bottom four on the team in both categories.
Point blank, Jimmy Butler needs to attack the basket and become more of the dominant superstar we saw in last year’s playoffs. That is the biggest factor in the Heat’s game plan to win Game 4 on Saturday.
We’ll see if they can get it done!