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Miami Heat: 4 Immediate Eastern Conference Playoff Threats

By Eric Fritts

Erik Spoelstra Head Coach of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Erik Spoelstra Head Coach of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) passes the ball under pressure from Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34)(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports) /

Miami Heat: 4 Immediate Eastern Conference Playoff Threats- Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have been up and down. The anchor of their defense has been Giannis Antetokoumpo.

Milwaukee

Giannis stepped into the central defensive role after Brook Lopez‘s back injury. Lopez wasn’t the team’s best defensive player, but he was a huge part of their scheme.

His clever drop coverage helped deter scoring at the rim, giving Giannis the ability to roam. The lack of Lopez is most likely the biggest factor for the Bucks’ postseason.

Must Read. How Miami Heat Stack Up Against The Top Teams In East. light

The Miami Heat have the perimeter scoring to keep up with anyone, Lopez or not. If the interior role goes to Giannis, then he might come up short in other places on the floor.

Offensively, the Bucks are also inconsistent. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday were key players for the Bucks’ championship.

This year though, there will be no room for error or slow starts in the playoffs. Miami has the talent and scoring to attack from anywhere.

The Bucks have turned into a bit of a rival for Miami but this series all hangs in how they keep up defensively. Well, also on if their supporting cast shows up on offense.

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