Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing 3 key matchups in series vs. Miami Heat

Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing 3 key matchups in series vs. Miami Heat – Matthews vs. Robinson

This will certainly go beyond just one player, but the Bucks have quite the challenge in trying to slow down the hot shooting of Heat sharpshooting forward Duncan Robinson.

All throughout the 2019-20 season, Robinson took the form of a human flamethrower as he made a total of 270 threes, tied for the third-highest mark of all NBA players all year. All the while hitting such shots at a 44.6 percent clip. Given how prolific and lethal Robinson is as a shooter, and how he does so all while commanding so much attention without the ball in his hands, the Heat profited by being the second-best 3-point shooting team in the NBA this regular season.

For the Bucks, determining who gets the lion’s share of trying to slow down Robinson won’t be just limited to one player as it will take a whole slew of options to fully extinguish the former Wolverine.

In the regular season, it was starting Bucks wing Wesley Matthews who recorded the most minutes guarding Robinson over the three games both sides went up against each other. Over those 35.4 partial possessions, Robinson scored just 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting (3-for-5 from deep), but committed two turnovers.

But considering Matthews’ defensive expertise and physicality, he could easily see more time on Heat All-Star wing Jimmy Butler. And throwing more speed and athleticism at Robinson with options such as Eric Bledsoe or Pat Connaughton could prove to be worthwhile in throwing Robinson off his incredible and unique shooting rhythm.

That certainly won’t be easy to do and it only builds up the specialized nature of how Robinson has made his quick rise into becoming a key, valuable cog within the Heat’s foundation.