"Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the second quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference first-round(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)"
The Miami Heat will officially tip off their NBA season on Thursday. Luckily for them, they’ll get the opportunity to do it against the team that, unfortunately, sent them home packing last season.
My Take
Welcoming the Bucks to Miami, the Heat have a prime opportunity to get their season off to a good start against a Bucks team that looked extremely impressive in a season-opening win of their own over the Brooklyn Nets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t looked hurt at all or bothered by his knee issue, as he went on to have his typical all-around showing. However, they didn’t leave the game unscathed, as Jrue Holiday went down with what’s being labeled a “heel contusion” early.
It still didn’t hinder them enough to not roll over the Nets though. Will that same thing be the case on Thursday against the Miami Heat?
Listed as probable, Holiday might go but then again, he might not.
Only player listed on Heat injury report for Thursday vs Bucks is Victor Oladipo out due to: Right Knee; Injury Recovery.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 20, 2021
For Bucks, looks like Holiday plays.
Out:
DeVincenzo (Left Ankle)
Hood (Right Foot)
Ojeleye (Left Calf)
Portis (Left Hamstring)
Probable:
Holiday (Right Heel)
Either way it goes though and here, the Miami Heat should win this game. Giannis will be the best player on the floor, regardless, but whether Holiday is on the floor or not, the next best three will play for Miami.
During the playoffs last season, the Miami Heat looked liked a far less quality of a team than the Bucks did. In all actuality though, that isn’t true and the gap isn’t that big between them.
That much was proven in the NBA Bubble the year prior, though the further development of Giannis and the addition of Holiday gave them a boost for last season. Well, the Miami Heat added Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler is well-rested, and you have to account for the development of guys like Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and even a guy like Max Strus… among others.
For these reasons, plus the fact that the Miami Heat certainly still have a good memory of what happened to them last postseason and though they are acting nonchalant about it all, the Miami Heat should win. They’ll win the game by seven in a pretty decent scoring affair.
Final Result And Score: Miami Heat Over Bucks, 111-104