Bucks-Heat Series: The Bucks Show True Form

The first-round series between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks served as a rematch between the two squads that played in the 2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference Semifinals in Orlando. Of course, the Heat won that series in five games. Of course, Giannis Antekounmpo was injured in that series.

This time around, there was no backdoor sweep. It was a sweep.

For the Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo, beating the Miami Heat by an average margin of 20 points per game is a statement: this is the true form of the Bucks when Antetokounmpo is healthy. While the two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) saw his averages drop in the playoffs, he showed in the Miami series that he could dominate the game without scoring too much.

The Greek Freak is currently averaging 23 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. In their series-clinching Game Four victory, he finished with 20 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. However, Antetokounmpo isn't the only problem opponents need to solve. Five other Milwaukee players are also averaging in double figures in the playoffs.

Khris Middleton averaged 21 points against the Heat. Middleton had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Game Four. Brook Lopez helped contained the bigs of Miami while averaging 15 points and six rebounds.

The biggest factor that perhaps helped the Bucks in this rematch is Jrue Holiday. He is averaging 15 points, nine assists, and two steals thus far in the playoffs. He is a one-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member and a one-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member. A two-way point guard in Holiday might be the missing piece to the championship aspirations of the Bucks.

On the other side of the fence, Miami was nowhere near the team they were inside the Orlando bubble last year. Jimmy Butler averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists during the 2020-2021 regular season. In the first-round defeat against the Bucks, Butler's scoring average dropped to just 14 points per game on 31% from the field and 18% from the three-point line.

Bam Adebayo still produced solid numbers (15 points and nine rebounds per game), but he also dealt with multiple injuries throughout the campaign. Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro only combined for 19 points per game in this series. As a team, the Heat averaged a league-worst 98 points per game during the 2021 playoffs. Their field goal shooting (39%) also ranked last in the playoffs. There was no way Miami could win against the Bicks with that scoring output. 

In contrast, Milwaukee is averaging 118 points on 46% field goal shooting.  

Injuries plagued the Heat during the entire season, which affected their chemistry. Plus, the fact that players missed games due to 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) protocols. Who knows what the outcome of this series would be if Miami had a healthier team entering the playoffs?

The Bucks and the Heat are heading in a different direction. Miami is now out of the playoffs while the Bucks will face the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference semifinals. For the Heat, it's an opportunity to heal and rebuild for next season. For the Bucks, it's another chance to prove to the rest of the league that with a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo, they are the team to beat.

Photo is from CBS Sports