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.
Kendrick Nunn could be a secret weapon used against the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing alongside the likes of Tyler Herro and Gordan Dragic in the backcourt, Kendrick Nunn is often the forgotten man for the Miami Heat. Taking a backseat to those two, playing time for Nunn was scarce in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, but he will see a much more prominent role for the Heat in this rematch with the Bucks.
Primarily starting at point guard for Miami, the 25-year-old has played stellar basketball against Milwaukee this season by averaging 16.3 points on 52.6 percent shooting from the floor and 41.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. With so much defensive focus being directed towards Herro, Dragic, Butler and others on this Heat team, Nunn could be an under-the-radar pick to have a breakout series.
According to NBA.com/stats, Nunn’s most frequent defender in Miami’s three regular season contests against Milwaukee was Bryn Forbes. The guard has been phenomenal on the offensive end this season by shooting the lights out from distance, but his defense is among his most significant shortcomings. Although Forbes held Nunn to just four points on 2-for-6 shooting from the floor and 0-for-2 from deep on 19.3 partial possessions during these three meetings, the Heat could look to exploit him in the playoffs if the Bucks roll with that same strategy.
With Forbes lighting it up against the Heat in their matchups this season, he will likely see extended minutes for Milwaukee off the bench to provide some floor spacing. The biggest question with that is whether or not his defensive efforts can hold up against a player like Nunn that can heat up in a hurry.
Duncan Robinson could be a secret weapon used against the Milwaukee Bucks
Third-year forward Duncan Robinson has risen to elite status when it comes to 3-point shooting, which has proven troublesome for the Bucks in the past.
It is no secret that Milwaukee’s kryptonite throughout the Budenholzer has been opponents knocking down an abundance of 3-pointers. According to NBA.com/stats, the Bucks gave up the most 3-point makes among any team to their opponents this season at 14.8 per game. That could certainly be worrisome against this Miami team that is loaded with shooters, including one of the best in the association in Robinson.
That makes the 27-year-old a significant threat in the postseason as he is having a fantastic season from the perimeter by shooting 40.8 percent on 8.5 attempts per contest. He is by far the best shooter from distance on this Miami team, which could make him the ultimate X-factor for them in this series, depending on whether or not that shot is falling.
With the Bucks experimenting with schemes on the defensive end throughout the regular season, they must emphasize focusing on the perimeter to prevent shooters like Robinson from catching fire on the offensive end. That places extra weight on Khris Middleton’s shoulders defensively as he has primarily been Robinson’s defender in past matchups.
Time will tell if the forward’s efforts on the defensive end hold up, but containing Robinson will be pivotal in this matchup. If not, that red hot shooting from Robinson could make him the unsung hero of this series and send the Bucks home early for the second consecutive postseason.