Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: February 9 at Miami Heat
By Adam McGee
Major key for Milwaukee – Move the ball
The last time the Bucks were in South Beach, they lost by 18 points and tied a season-low in scoring with just 79 points.
Although Erik Spoelstra’s Heat teams have long been known for their defensive steel, their was as much blame to go to the Bucks for that performance as there was credit to be attributed to the Heat.
Very simply, perhaps out of frustration or a sheer desperation to get something to fall, the Bucks stopped moving the ball on that occasion. Milwaukee managed just nine assists, another season’s worst, in one of the games when the Bucks’ offense appeared at its most stagnant.
Milwaukee has improved in that regard since then, but at the same time they’ll need to beware of playing into Miami’s hands again. Hassan Whiteside provides a natural deterrent to keep opposing teams away from the rim, and to try to combat that in creating quality looks inside and out, ball swings will be essential for the Bucks.