MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledges
the incentive that comes from opening the postseason against the
Miami Heat, who eliminated Milwaukee in the second round last
year.
“Obviously everybody on the team has a little bit of extra
motivation,” the reigning two-time MVP said.
Miami beat the top-seeded Bucks
4-1 and went on to win the Eastern Conference title
last year before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in
the NBA Finals. Miami is seeded sixth and Milwaukee third in
the East heading into the rematch that begins Saturday.
“Totally different,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “The year
is different. Both teams are different. ... It’s just a totally new
challenge. We feel grateful that we have this opportunity to be in
the playoffs and compete against them. They’re a great team.”
The Bucks had the NBA’s best regular-season record in 2018-19
and 2019-20, but they blew a 2-0 lead to Toronto in the
Eastern Conference Finals in 2019. Those two early exits turn
up the pressure on a franchise seeking its first NBA title since
1971.
“I believe that pressure is earned,” said Antetokounmpo, who
injured his ankle early in Game 4 and didn’t play the rest of last
year’s Heat series. “If I wasn’t who I am today and I didn’t work
as hard as I work and I didn’t focus on the game, I didn’t love the
game and I didn’t compete the way I am, we wouldn’t be talking
about pressure. Pressure is earned, and I love it.”
The Bucks responded to last year’s exit by rearranging the
pieces complementing Antetokounmpo and two-time All-Star forward
Khris Middleton. The most notable addition was
Jrue Holiday, who averaged 19 points and shot 11 of 21 from
3-point range against the Heat during the regular season.
Milwaukee won two of its three regular-season meetings with
Miami, but Heat star Jimmy Butler didn't play in any of them and
two of those games took place in December.
Butler averaged 23.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in last
year’s Heat-Bucks series.
He's ready to try knocking out the Bucks once again.
“You don’t hold anything back,” Butler said. “You leave it all
out there. Best time of year for it.”
DIFFERENT TYPE OF REMATCH
Both teams have made notable changes since their last playoff
meeting
Only five of the 11 guys who played at least a minute for the
Bucks in last year’s Heat series remain on the roster:
Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Brook Lopez, Donte DiVincenzo and Pat
Connaughton.
Miami no longer has Jae Crowder, who averaged 15.2 points and
shot 22 of 51 from 3-point range against the Bucks in last year’s
playoffs.
SURGING FOES
The Heat were 7-14 early in the season and 22-24 and stuck at
.500 in mid-April. But they enter the playoffs on a tear after
winning 12 of their last 16 regular-season games. Milwaukee had won
eight of nine games before closing the regular season with a
118-112 loss at Chicago in which it
rested all its starters.
GIANNIS VS. HEAT
Very few teams do a better job defensively against Antetokounmpo
than the Heat.
Antetokounmpo averages 18.6 points on 50.4% shooting in
regular-season and playoff games against Miami. Only one team
(Golden State, 18.4) holds him to a lower scoring average.
Miami holds a 17-14 series edge over the Bucks in games in which
Antetokounmpo played.
SPO VS. BUD
There is no opening round series that pits coaches who have gone
head-to-head more often than this one between Milwaukee’s Mike
Budenholzer and Spoelstra. They’ve coached against each other 35
times, including playoffs. Spoelstra has an 18-17 edge.
The Denver-Portland series also has coaches that have opposed
one other on 35 previous occasions. The Nuggets’ Michael Malone
holds an 18-17 edge over the Blazers’ Terry Stotts.
THE NEW (OLD) GUYS
The Bucks acquired P.J. Tucker
and the Heat added Trevor Ariza in March
and both bring a wealth of playoff experience.
That’s not all they have in common. The 36-year-old Tucker and
35-year-old Ariza played together for the 2017-18 Houston Rockets team that went
65-17 and took Golden State to seven games in the West Finals.
“He’s one of my best friends, in the league or outside the
league,” Tucker said.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.1 points, 11 rebounds and 5.9
assists for the Bucks. Jrue Holiday is averaging 18.1 points and
3.9 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games for
Milwaukee.
Butler leads the Heat averaging 21.5 points and is adding 6.9
rebounds. Nunn is averaging 15.9 points and 2.7 rebounds while
shooting 50.8% over the last 10 games for Miami.
LAST 10 GAMES
Bucks: 8-2, averaging 124 points, 48.6 rebounds, 24.5 assists,
7.1 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the
field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points on 46.9%
shooting.
Heat: 8-2, averaging 118.8 points, 40.5 rebounds, 28.1 assists,
8.3 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.8% from the
field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points on 50.0%
shooting.
INJURIES
Bucks: Khris Middleton: day to day (ankle).
Heat: Omer Yurtseven: day to day (not with team), Victor
Oladipo: out for season (knee).
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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this
report.
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