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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players they must contain in Game 2 with Miami Heat

By Dalton Sell

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 22: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots in the first quarter against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at Fiserv Forum on May 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 22: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots in the first quarter against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at Fiserv Forum on May 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday, Miami Heat: Goran Dragic, Bam Adebayo
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 22 (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Game 1 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat was certainly a thrilling matchup throughout regulation and a quick overtime period.

Thanks to Khris Middleton’s jumper with just seconds left remaining in OT, the Bucks escaped with a narrow 109-107 victory Saturday afternoon. With this game signaling that the rest of this series could be a fight down to the wire, both teams are preparing their game plans for Game 2 Monday night in Milwaukee.

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For the Bucks, focusing on slowing down  Miami’s red hot 3-point shooting that was on display all throughout the first game should be the top priority, right alongside knocking in their own shots from the perimeter.

However, there will also be a handful of individuals on the Miami roster that Milwaukee should look to keep at bay from the moment they step on the floor. Following the events of Game 1, slowing down these players could prove crucial.

With that being said, here are three players from the Heat that the Bucks must look to contain defensively in tomorrow’s Game 2.

The Milwaukee Bucks must contain Goran Dragic in Game 2 with the Heat

Goran Dragic torched the Bucks in last year’s second round playoff matchup and he continued that tradition into this season with a stellar Game 1.

The guard was fantastic off Miami’s bench by scoring 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from 3-point territory. Proving to be a thorn in the Bucks’ side once again, Dragic is someone that they must figure out how to slow down before he has himself another phenomenal series as he did against Milwaukee last year.

According to NBA.com/stats, Dragic’s primary defender throughout this first matchup was starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who guarded him for 25.3 partial possessions across seven minutes. Holiday’s reputation as one of the best defenders in the entire association needs little justification and that stature means he will likely continue being the main player tasked with slowing down the Slovenian guard.

As evidenced by his efforts in Saturday’s matchup, Dragic is someone who can impact the game significantly with a red hot scoring touch off the bench. The Bucks did not have anyone impactfully guard him in last year’s series, but hopefully they can change that this time around as he is already off to a hot start.

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