Dairyland Express
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat playoff series preview

By Steven Schauer

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball while being guarded by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter at the Fiserv Forum on October 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball while being guarded by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter at the Fiserv Forum on October 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Milwaukee Bucks
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 08: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 8, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

Keys to the Milwaukee Bucks winning the series

If Milwaukee wants to win an NBA Championship, it needs to happen within the next three years. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018-19 and were ousted 4-2 by the eventual champion Toronto Raptors.

Below are three keys Milwaukee needs to concentrate on if they want to advance past Miami.

Focus on defensive 3-point shooting percentage: The Bucks didn’t perform well defensively around the arc this season, ranking 29th in defensive 3-point percentage (38.4). The Heat won’t torch the nets, ranking 19th in the league at 35.8 percent from long range, but why let an opponent get hot if you don’t need to. Miami’s starters are draining 45.1 percent (51-of-113) over the last five games from long range.

Get to the free-throw line: Milwaukee got to the free-throw line often but just didn’t make enough to change the game. They ranked 23rd in the league at 76.0 percent as a team. The Bucks shot below 70 percent at the charity stripe in 17 games this season and somehow managed a 12-5 record in those contests. If the series gets tight, which it could be, free throws in the final seconds will decide the outcome.

Keep the supporting cast involved: The supporting cast of Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes, and Pat Connaughton performed drastically better in wins than losses. The trio scored on average 28.9 points on 49.7 percent in victories compared to 22.5 points on 43.8 percent in losses. Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday are the three-headed monster for Milwaukee, but the trio of Connaughton, Portis, and Forbes need to elevate their game to the next level now that the playoffs are here.

Milwaukee’s run to its second NBA title ever begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT against Miami.

Home/Milwaukee Bucks