Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Heat has been a really up-and-down team this year and while the Bucks hold the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, they too have been shaky at times this year. We will touch on Miami shortly, but the Bucks  seem to only play through Giannis Antetokounmpo, much like they did last year. 

That led them to the best record in the league last year and to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but then they lost the series to the Heat 4-1. This matchups for the Bucks in the first-round would definitely be personal, especially given that they had such high championship aspirations last season. 

Now, with Jrue Holiday and an upgraded bench, the Milwaukee Bucks are not getting the attention they deserve compared to the Nets and the 76ers, which is why they could take this opportunity to demolish the Heat in the first-round. 

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However, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo may have something else to say about this! The Heat have struggled all year long, but they have won 6 of their last 8 games and are starting to find their niche. This team goes as far as Butler is able to take them, but other guys like Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and Trevor Ariza are starting to play better at the right time. 

A lot of the Heat’s potential playoff success dwindles though on whether or not Victor Oladipo will be able to play. He has been sidelined since April 8th with a knee injury that the Heat have kept secret. Who knows if Oladipo will be able to play, but if he is ready to go for the playoffs, then the Miami Heat could definitely “catch fire,” no pun intended” again in the playoffs like they did last year. 

Heat-Bucks in the first-round does not sound that thrilling of a matchup, but given that the Heat took care of the Bucks easily last year and given both team’s championship pedigree, this could definitely shape up to be one of the better matchups of the 2021 NBA playoffs should we get to see it in the first-round!