There will certainly be an abundance of talent on full display as the Milwaukee Bucks square off against the Miami Heat in the playoffs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo and Jrue Holiday headline the stars that will clash in what should be a thrilling postseason rematch. While the stars will likely dictate the eventual outcome of this series, both teams have their share of secret weapons that could undoubtedly provide a boost along the way.
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For instance, Miami’s Jae Crowder flipped the switch entirely and played an essential part in their eventual 4-1 victory over Milwaukee last postseason.
Crowder’s contributions on offense were troublesome for the Bucks as he shot a daunting 22-for-51 (43.1 percent) from behind the arc. Furthermore, he played suffocating defense on Giannis by holding him to 9-for-22 shooting on 73 partial possessions, according to NBA.com/stats.
Although Crowder is no longer on the Heat, that team is still stacked with potential pieces that could have a similar surge in the postseason. With that being said, here are three secret weapons that Miami could unleash on Milwaukee in the postseason.
Trevor Ariza could be a secret weapon used against the Milwaukee Bucks
Although Trevor Ariza is not Jae Crowder, they are comparable in many ways for what they bring to the table individually. Both have earned a reputation in this league for their toughness on the court, but they also share a set of skills that could be worth monitoring from the Bucks’ side of things.
Much like Crowder, Ariza has always been utilized as a long range shooter throughout his lengthy career. He has kept the tradition alive after being traded to Miami midseason by shooting 35 percent on 4.8 attempts from 3-point territory per game. Crowder torched the Bucks with his scorching shooting and perhaps Ariza could get the hot hand himself if they fail to defend the perimeter like last season.
The forward will also be tasked with guarding multiple positions. His versatility ranges throughout Milwaukee’s lineup, but it seems like he will be someone who guards Giannis Antetokounmpo from time to time when big man Bam Adebayo is sitting on the sidelines. If so, only time will tell if he can play the same robust defense that Crowder did so well.
All in all, the similarities are there between the two toughened veterans for their two-way play. That makes Ariza an immediate threat for the Bucks as they remember what Crowder did to them during last year’s postseason.