The Miami Heat know first-hand what it’s like to lose to the 2021 NBA Champions. In the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, they were obliterated at the hands of the team that would eventually go on to hoist up the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
While that was the case this past season, it moves one to begin to ponder on the future. While they were a force to be reckoned with prior to winning it all, how does this latest feat propel them?
Furthermore, when considering the fact that the Miami Heat see them on a very regular basis and would need to eliminate them in order to win another title of their own, how does it all impact them? Can they keep up with the Milwaukee Bucks?
The answer is yes and you have to go back a season or so to see it. Though people will look at the Bubble Season with side eyes, it happened and is relevant.
The Miami Heat were destroyed in these past playoffs by the eventual champion, Milwaukee Bucks. Can they now keep up with Giannis and his Milwaukee team?
In those playoffs, the Miami Heat beat the Bucks, though without Jrue Holiday on their side and a bit differently than they were beaten a month or so ago. However, that shows that they are capable and are only a “Jrue Holiday-equivalent” type of talent from being a team capable of, at least, equaling what the Bucks do.
Now, when you have one of those guys, you always have a chance. Being one of those types of players though is more than just talent, it’s about mentality.
The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Miami Heat have their own in Jimmy Butler. Giannis’s talent is greater than Jimmy’s though, which does mean something, however, the Miami Heat’s situation is different.
They have another dude that has all the talent to be one of those guys, but just doesn’t have the mentality yet. The actual great thing about it is that his best ability, one of a few near-elite (if not completely) abilities, is his defense.
Bam Adebayo is capable of matching up with Giannis and somewhat neutralizing, or enough so, that the Miami Heat can keep up and do enough to beat them. No one will ever stop him, as he’s too good, too big, and too strong for that.
However, Bam Adebayo is, likely, the most perfect matchup for him the league. The Miami Heat also have to add another guy to counteract what Jrue Holiday added to the bunch that they owned in the NBA Bubble.
That, though, is how they get it done. That is why they can keep up with the newest NBA Champions, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
This theory will certainly be put to the test. Count on it.