After two games, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves knotted 1-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Miami Heat in round one.
It’s been a tale of two games thus far, with the Bucks having looked flat in Game 1, losing their top star in Giannis Antetokounmpo did not help, but then coming out with tenacity in Game 2. While it is a small sample size, these two games have given fans plenty to observe with a couple of trends. With all of that said, let us look at three key observations from these first two playoff matchups at Fiserv Forum.
1 – Bobby Portis has brought some much-needed intensity and production
After a Sixth Man of the Year recognition-worthy regular season, Bobby Portis has been excellent to start the NBA Playoffs. Across these two contests, he’s averaged 17 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a blocked shot per game.
In Game 1, Portis did his part to keep the contest within striking distance by scoring 21 points and hauling in eight rebounds in the loss. In Game 2, stuffing the stat sheet would not be enough, and Portis seemingly knew it. He would have to bring some of his trademark intensity to the floor to get the Milwaukee Bucks back on the right track, and he answered the call.
Starting in place of the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo, Portis made his mark on this game from the opening tip. The center was energetic as he hauled in boards with authority and blocked two shots. A few days after he was featured among players to talk the most trash via a survey done by The Athletic, (Subscription required) Portis showed why he belonged by going back and forth with several players on Miami’s side.
This energy from Portis, which had the Fiserv Forum crowd rocking on several occasions, spread to the rest of this team and helped them take down the Heat. Portis finished with a stellar line of 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, a steal, and an immeasurable amount of energy spread to his teammates and the crowd. Portis really might be the only player in the NBA who can get an entire arena chanting his name simply by grabbing a rebound.
These two games are exactly why Milwaukee Bucks fans love Bobby Portis so much. Not only is he incredibly productive, but he also brings a tenacity that few other players possess. In the playoffs, this type of energy undoubtedly helps, especially when a team is currently without its best player. There is no denying that Portis will keep his foot on the gas as the playoff go on.