Bucks vs Heat- NBA In-Season Tournament
The (12-5) Milwaukee Bucks take on the (10-7) Miami Heat Tuesday Night in Miami, Florida. Tip time is 6:30 CST. The Bucks already won an exciting game one vs Miami (122-114). The game will be broadcast on TNT and also on MAX. (The old HBO)
This game does feel “big”, especially if Milwaukee wins. They then qualify for the “final 8”. Even if they lose they still have an outside shot. Basically, Miami needs to make sure they beat them by more than 8. And New York also then must beat the Hornets.
Related: Bucks In-Season Tournament Scenarios
If Milwaukee is going to win against Miami they will need to play with more intensity, especially on the defensive end.
The keys for the Milwaukee Bucks
Play with more intensity (Like the end of that Blazers Game)
Right now Milwaukee owns the “title” of best comeback in a game so far in this young NBA season. Against Portland the team simply came out flat. They then overcame a 26 point deficit to win. It was really cool to see! Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo did a great job of establishing themselves as the dominant players on the court that fans clamor they know they are.
After the half, Milwaukee really turned it around.
Portland had 68 points in the first half. In the second half they only scored 34. In fact, in the fourth quarter, they only scored 14 points! That is a very low output for an NBA team. That was also the defense fans have been looking for.
Milwaukee went, as expected, in the opposite direction. In the 3rd quarter of the “Portland Comeback Game” Milwaukee scored 23 points. They then followed that up with a whooping 33 points in the 4th. When you outscore your opponent by 19 points in a quarter, you’re going to win that game!
Make your “bunnies”- Quit Missing Easy Shots
Something is up with this team and making easy shots. Against Boston that game would have been very different had Lillard made that dunk or had Giannis made some more layups.
Feels like it’s more the Bucks missing easy shots than it is the Celtics defense shutting them down.
— Wisconsin Nation (@Wisco___Nation) November 23, 2023
Rebound the Basketball
“Box out!” In this game Milwaukee needs to stick to the fundamentals.
Milwaukee led the league last season in total team rebounds. This season, so far, they are tied for 20th. They need to rebound to get the ball out into transition.
When the Bucks control the glass they control the tempo of the game. As a team they need to control the tempo of the game. Giannis leads the team in rebounds with 10.6 per game.
Related: Previewing the Milwaukee Bucks Forwards
The Opponent: The Miami Heat
The Heat also have two really great players in Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.
The All-star Adebayo continues to play well. Averaging 23/10/4, he is the Heat’s leading scorer, rebounder and rim protector. He is just a real solid player. Miami added center Thomas Bryant to back him up.
Jimmy Butler has been a star for Miami. The 34 year old has had a wonderful NBA career. Butler’s career stats against Milwaukee are not strong (15/4/4).
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been a nice player for Miami this year. Their first overall pick, he has even started in 4 games so fast this season. As of this writing he is shooting 40% from 3. He is fitting well into the notion of “Heat Culture”.
We talk about this all the time in these previews: The idea of “Heat Culture”. It is simple: be disciplined because NBA players can often fall astray. Miami is supposed to be this great place to party; Heat players express a certain work ethic that rises above that.
The Heat Culture starts with Head Coach Eric Spoelstra who is still coaching for Miami. (First season was in 1997). He has won two NBA Championships with Miami and has helped instill a “heat culture” which is well-renowned in NBA circles. The main idea is “stay ready so you don’t have to be ready.” Sounds pretty philosophical.
People wonder what is "Heat Culture"… Heat Culture is discipline, accountability, work ethic and enjoying somebody else’s success. As the #OG, it's my job to set the tone. Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. @GQ @GQsports⚓️💯 https://t.co/RD2xHB3mUC pic.twitter.com/HHLQaaZUYH
— Udonis Haslem (@ThisIsUD) October 27, 2021
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- The Bucks might need to shoot more and faster. They are only averaging 87 shots a game. The best team in the NBA so far in that category (The Pacers) are taking 95 shots a game.
- Milwaukee Bucks fan R. D. Trebilcox, was awarded a new car for his part in reasoning why the Bucks was a good nickname for the team upon its creation, saying that bucks were “spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile.”
- Miami leads the all-time series 75-52.
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