Bucks vs Heat

[mufan2003]

Well, here we go. This matchup probably makes all Bucks fans nervous. Have to be more confident this year with Jrue Holiday, a better DiVincenzo and to a lesser extent....Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes and Jeff Teague as younger and improved bench options.

I think the road to the NBA Finals will have never been tougher for the Bucks. They are potentially looking at Miami, Brooklyn and Philly to reach the NBA Finals. I think Brooklyn has to be the favorite with Durant, Harden and Irving.....but they do struggle defensively.

This is definitely the time when the Bucks will be judged. These playoffs will reveal a lot about Budenholzer, Giannis, Middleton and the addition of Holiday. An entire week to prepare as well with the Play-in tournament.

[mufan2003]

Best part of the Play-in tournament will be the #7/#8 matchup out West with the Lakers hosting the Warriors. Golden State has won 8 of 10 and 6 straight. Curry was the NBA scoring champion with 32ppg.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31198434/how-does-nba-play-tournament-work-dates-projections-rules-explained

[Goose85]

A very tough playoff road. I actually think the Bucks are a better team than last year, but that doesn't mean NBA finals. Brooklyn will be interesting. I think Harden and Irving are wild cards, do they play smart team ball, or will there be finger pointing as soon as things don't go their way.

The east will be a battle this year. Hopefully fun to watch.

[mufan2003]

A very tough playoff road. I actually think the Bucks are a better team than last year, but that doesn't mean NBA finals. Brooklyn will be interesting. I think Harden and Irving are wild cards, do they play smart team ball, or will there be finger pointing as soon as things don't go their way.

The east will be a battle this year. Hopefully fun to watch.

I agree that the Bucks are better, and finally getting the ball to Giannis in different spots.

Harden and Irving can have a tendency to want to dominate the ball. A lot of dribbling and sticking too long in either player's hands can make it easier to defend. In Golden State, I always felt like Thompson didn't need to dominate the ball. Curry and Durant could, but didn't have to. They kept the ball moving. I still think defense could prove to be the liability for Brooklyn. Irving had a terrible time trying to defend Holiday in the post....Holiday's size and physicality was too much for Irving.

[Goose85]

I agree that the Bucks are better, and finally getting the ball to Giannis in different spots.

Harden and Irving can have a tendency to want to dominate the ball. A lot of dribbling and sticking too long in either player's hands can make it easier to defend. In Golden State, I always felt like Thompson didn't need to dominate the ball. Curry and Durant could, but didn't have to. They kept the ball moving. I still think defense could prove to be the liability for Brooklyn. Irving had a terrible time trying to defend Holiday in the post....Holiday's size and physicality was too much for Irving.

They will have to outscore people to win, and they are capable of doing so. The big 3 at Brooklyn have been oft injured this season. To beat the Bucks they will need to be healthy. Of course the same can be said about the Bucks too.

[mufan2003]

Tip set for Saturday at 1pm.

https://www.espn.com/nba/schedule

[Goose85]

Tip set for Saturday at 1pm.

https://www.espn.com/nba/schedule

That's tough, as I had planned to get a lot done on Saturday. Oh well.

[mufan2003]

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced-leaders/

An interesting look at advanced stats by team heading into the playoffs. Bucks are tied for 4th in Offensive Rating, 9th in Defensive Rating and 4th in Net Rating. 2nd in Effective FG%. One stat that caught my attention was Brooklyn being 22nd in Defensive Rating.

For the NBA, this season, there were more 3-point FGs made than in any other season and the highest percentage made than in any other season.

[mufan2003]

Good grief that was torture (lol).....great if you were an impartial observer!

To win despite shooting 16% (5-31) from beyond the arc while the Heat shot 40% (20-50) is a great relief for the Bucks. Giannis just seemed tight, did he make anything outside a dunk, layup or free throw? Hopefully just a matter of it being Game 1 against the team that disposed of you in 5 games last year. I hope getting this one gets Giannis to relax just a bit and not play so uptight. IMO, Giannis doesn't make shots when he is wound up so tight.

A very entertaining game and relieved the Bucks pulled it out.

[Goose85]

Good grief that was torture (lol).....great if you were an impartial observer!

To win despite shooting 16% (5-31) from beyond the arc while the Heat shot 40% (20-50) is a great relief for the Bucks. Giannis just seemed tight, did he make anything outside a dunk, layup or free throw? Hopefully just a matter of it being Game 1 against the team that disposed of you in 5 games last year. I hope getting this one gets Giannis to relax just a bit and not play so uptight. IMO, Giannis doesn't make shots when he is wound up so tight.

A very entertaining game and relieved the Bucks pulled it out.

Talk about a completely different game from 1 to 2. Can't hit a 3, can't miss a 3.

If Forbes and Connaughton are hitting from 3, and Giannis is making free throws, then we are a very dangerous team against anyone.

[mufan2003]

Many of the national pundits felt Miami should be feeling great after game 1, because Butler shot 4-22 and Adebayo shot 4-15. Things could only get better.

They seemed to ignore the fact that the Bucks were the 4th best 3-pt shooting team (38.9%) in the league during the regular season but only shot 16% (5-31) in game 1. I don't expect 22-53 (41.5%) every time out, but you knew the Bucks would bounce back from beyond the arc. Great to see Jrue Holiday with 15 assists. There is a toughness that has been added to this Bucks team with Holiday, Portis and Tucker.

Miami isn't going to concede anything. That is a proud franchise with a great coach. Even heard Shaq predict last night that Miami will even up this series. If I am the Bucks, I am putting that up as bulletin board material.

[Goose85]

I agree we have more toughness too with Holiday being added.

Need to take one in Miami and then bring it back to MKE and finish it off.

Miami is a tough team, and Butler can will his team to win at times.

The Bucks should be poised to have starters play whatever minutes are needed. The bench needs to take care of business too, with Connaughton, Tucker, Portis and Forbes. Keep hitting, even at a lesser %, and we are good.

Looks like Brooklyn is in good shape, would hope if we can win the Miami series, we do so with the same timing and get equal rest.

[mufan2003]

Worst playoff loss in Heat franchise history. Teams down 0-3 in a playoff series are 0-140 all-time in coming back and winning the series. Time to go for the sweep and maybe get an extra day of rest before facing the Nets. An interesting take from a national NBA writer (Tim Bontemps) who has no rooting interest in the Bucks:

After a second straight evisceration of the Heat on Thursday night -- this time on the shores of Biscayne Bay -- Milwaukee has taken a commanding 3-0 lead, compiling what is arguably the most stunning result of the first round thus far (yes, including the collapse of the LA Clippers out West).

All of the things that people questioned about this team entering the season -- from its ability to hold up in a pressure situation to just how much of a difference would Jrue Holiday make to whether Mike Budenholzer would make the necessary adjustments to succeed in the playoffs -- have all been emphatically answered three games into what the Bucks hope is a very long postseason run.

Unlike the 76ers and Nets, both of whom have also taken care of business thus far against the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, respectively, Milwaukee is facing an opponent that many thought could threaten its season. And rather than finding themselves in a fight, the Bucks have instead smashed the Heat to smithereens in both Game 2 and 3 after escaping from Game 1 with an overtime victory.

The Nets, Milwaukee's second-round opponent should both teams advance, will offer a far greater challenge. But if we have learned anything in this first round, it's that this year's Bucks are far different than those of the past two postseasons.

[Goose85]

I agree, a completely different Bucks team with Holiday.

Donte out for the year is really going to hurt.

[Goose85]

I will admit, no way was I thinking we would sweep the Heat. Great series by the Bucks.

Now we just need Boston to cause a bit of trouble for Brooklyn.

The winner of the Bucks v. Nets series could very well be the favorite to win it all.