Miami is up 2-0 over Milwaukee in the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs and the Bucks, who finished the regular season with a league-high 56-17 record, are in a pinch. But while the Heat is unbeaten in the playoffs so far, it’s not a hopeless case for Milwaukee.
Last year, Milwaukee led Toronto, 2-0, in the Eastern Conference Finals then lost four in a row. The Bucks could do to Miami what the Raptors did to them. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, however, isn’t about to let the noose slip out of Milwaukee’s neck. Spoelstra’s navigation has been outstanding in Miami’s two wins over the Bucks in the playoffs. In Game 1, Spo got the drop on Milwaukee by going aggressive and attacking the interior, a radical departure from the Heat’s tendency in the regular season where Miami was the NBA’s second leading three-point shooting team. If the Bucks expected Miami to just bomb away from outside, they were wrong. Miami had more paint points, 42-24, more rebounds, 46-34 and more free throws made, 25-14. The outcome was a Miami win, 115-104.
In Game 2, Milwaukee adjusted by fortifying its interior defense so Miami went to the long ball and buried 17 treys, 10 more than the Bucks. This time, the Bucks controlled the boards, 50-38 and compiled more paint points, 52-32. But Spo had the anecdote to thwart Milwaukee’s counterattack as Miami withstood a furious Bucks assault down the stretch to eke out a 116-114 decision.
Butler did it for Miami in Games 1 and 2. He erupted for 40 points in the series opener and canned two free throws with no time left to seal it in the rematch. Butler would’ve been the goat in Game 2 if he hadn’t scored the foul shots. With Miami ahead 113-109, time down to 8.5 seconds, Butler turned the ball over and it led to a Brook Lopez layup. Then, Butler flubbed a free throw with 7.7 seconds to go and Miami up, 114-111. If Butler hadn’t missed, Miami would’ve enjoyed a two possession advantage. Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton then went to the line to make three free throws on a phantom foul by Goran Dragic, 4.3 ticks left. Butler took a corner jumper as time ran out and the referees called a grazing foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo in what had to be a make-up whistle. Butler hit the two foul shots to end it with no time remaining.
This season, Miami has beaten Milwaukee in four of five games. One of the four wins came when Butler wasn’t around, a 131-126 thriller in overtime. The only Bucks victory was a 130-116 romp during the seeding games with Butler and Dragic sidelined. Giannis, the reigning MVP, hasn’t been himself when defended by the Heat. He averaged 29.5 points in the regular season but in Miami’s 105-89 win last March just before the lockdown, was held to 13. In Game 1 of the series, Giannis had 18 points on 6-of-12 from the field. In five games against Miami this season, Giannis has shot 2-of-19 from distance, 10.5 percent, compared to 30.4 percent overall. The Greek Freak has been held to averaging 24.4 points (down by 5.1 points) and shooting 54.6 percent (down from 55.3 percent) when facing the Heat.
While Milwaukee’s offense is focused on Giannis and Middleton, Miami isn’t as predictable. In Game 1, Butler led the charge. But in Game 2, seven Heat players scored in double figures with Butler contributing 13 and four teammates finishing with more points. That kind of resilience is what makes Spo’s team a tough matchup for Milwaukee. Still, it’s too early to write off the Bucks. While it’s a fact that Milwaukee lost eight of its last 11 games in the regular season and the Bucks were upset in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs by Orlando despite Aaron Gordon’s absence, coach Mike Budenholzer is far from raising the white flag.