NBA Playoffs must-follow storylines: Bucks vs Heat
NBA Playoffs must-follow storylines: Bucks vs Heat – Who will win the 3-point shooting battle?
Shooting from beyond the arc has been a common storyline, trend, and determinant in today’s modern NBA, and it will continue to be in these NBA Playoffs, especially in this series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.
The Bucks rank fourth in 3-point shooting this season at a solid 38.9 percent. It’s consistently been a catalyst for their league-leading 120.1 points per game.
The Heat rank 19th in 3-point shooting this season at a 35.8 percent mark. Although, Milwaukee has been known for giving up too many comfortable 3-point attempts under head coach Mike Budenholzer’s defensive system, which teams have taken advantage of. Opponents have shot 38.4 percent from 3 against them this season.
To the credit of the Bucks though, they spent the regular season experimenting with different defensive tactics to help maximize their scheme heading into the postseason. They have become much more versatile as a team, and less traditional with their drop coverage scheme.
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We should see Milwaukee utilize small-ball lineups more often in order to switch more defensively, or other strategies such as blitzing on-ball screens that help take away open looks from the perimeter on a more consistent basis. After all, they have the right personnel to efficiently execute these tactics now with the presence of guys like Jrue Holiday and PJ Tucker.
Miami has one of the most lethal 3-point threats in Duncan Robinson, who’s shooting 40.8 percent from the mark this year and makes it tirelessly difficult to track his off-ball movement, so they should be attempting to get as many open looks as possible for him by utilizing screens and dribble handoffs. Tyler Herro, the young stud in his sophomore season, could also catch fire at any given point. Herro shot 42.4 percent from downtown against the Bucks in the playoffs last season.
Additionally, the Heat are consistently responsible on the defensive end as they only allow 108.0 points per game (fifth in the NBA), but they will also face the challenge of restraining a 3-point attack that includes Bryn Forbes (45.2 percent), Khris Middleton (41.4), Holiday (39.2), Bobby Portis (47.1!), and more that can’t be taken lightly.
In the first meeting of the season between these two teams in December, the Bucks absolutely lit it up from behind the arc, hitting an NBA-record 29 3’s en route to a 144-97 thrashing win. So, it’s safe to say that the Heat know what they’re in for coming into this matchup.
Will the Miami Heat be able to slow down the red-hot 3-point shooting from the Bucks throughout the series? It’ll be a tough task to accomplish, but something to watch for. On the other end, can the Milwaukee Bucks erase past struggles and defend the perimeter better with adjusted schemes, or will the Heat take advantage again? Limiting points from the 3-point line will be key to both teams.