Milwaukee Bucks: Players that must step up in Game 2 versus Miami Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo must step up for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 against Miami Heat

Although the bucks managed to get the job done with a solid victory, Game 1 against the Heat was far from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s best work.

Despite putting up 26 points on the afternoon, Antetokounmpo was forced to work for every basket as he shot a mere 10-for-27 from the field (0-for-3 from deep). Thanks to an abundance of hardened defenders, Miami has consistently proven to be a team difficult for Antetokounmpo to figure out offensively. They have virtually perfected building a wall in the paint to seal him off from getting close to the basket, which will be something to monitor as the series moves forward.

Another area that was under heavy surveillance Saturday was the MVP’s troublesome shooting from the free throw line.

Antetokounmpo struggled mightily to capitalize on those extra opportunities at the stripe by shooting just 6-for-13. In addition to missing seven attempts, Giannis had another attempt taken off the board after he was called for a rare 10-second violation, something that opposing teams had been calling for all season. Those missed free throws helped make this game much closer than it needed to be, and Antetokounmpo must knock those down more consistently when given a chance.

As the best player in this series, how Antetokounmpo plays will likely dictate the eventual outcome of this matchup. Although a finished stat line of 26 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, and three steals is certainly solid, the two-time MVP can be more efficient on the offensive end.

While this hard-nosed Miami team continues making life difficult for him, staying aggressive and taking the right shots will be pivotal in this series. The same goes for his free throw shooting, which remains Antetokounmpo’s Achilles heel.