Milwaukee vs Miami: The Heat have as much chance of winning

The Bucks won the first game of the series against Miami with difficulty, in overtime, but still won it. The second game will be largely decisive. Either the Heat will leave Milwaukee 0-2 and denied a margin for error at home, or the Bucks, at 1-1, will be forced to take their chances. Who will win the best position for themselves? Let’s pick a few bets on the upcoming meeting at once.

It was clear that the Bucks are approaching the playoffs with a stronger team than in recent years. The most important factor is the emergence of Jrue Holiday, who is useful, effective on both halves of the court, and most importantly, has brought more variation to Milwaukee’s game. Now, at key moments, the Bucks’ opponents have to pay attention not only to Giannis and Middleton but also to Jrue.

In the first game, which ended in overtime 109-107 (99:99), Holiday had 20 points and 11 rebounds. There’s no doubt the guard will continue to be just as efficient. Khris Middleton was the most productive with 27 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 rebounds and 26 points but made only 9 of his 27 field-goal attempts. Defending against Greek Bam Adebayo could be a problem for Milwaukee in this series.

Also, the Bucks’ three-point attack deserves attention. Their opponent shot 20-of-50 from beyond the arc, while the Bucks only made 5-of-31 from beyond the arc. Long-distance shooting, a critical component of modern basketball, could be a significant factor in Miami’s favor. Milwaukee also continue to have trouble rotating, with only 15 points off the bench; only 5 of its 9 players have assists in a game.

No matter what, it’s about time for the Bucks to show some playoff promise. Miami got off to a flying start last season and might not even make the first round this time around. That’s true, but the first game in the series with Milwaukee showed that the Heat have the weapons to advance to the next round.

First of all, let’s not forget that Erik Spoelstra, along with Greg Popovich, is Miami’s most historically significant current coach. He knows, unlike Budenholzer, how to win championships - he’s done it twice. Second, the team’s experience from a year ago is important as participating in a Finals series makes up for the youthfulness of most of the core performers.

In the first game, the Heat fell just a little short. Spoelstra relied on three-point shooting and three-point defense. The head coach was right. Despite their huge 56-24 advantage in the paint, it did not change the final score. If the Heat continue to work effectively on the court, their opponent could have big problems.

Miami have something to beat Milwaukee with. The first game showed that. Efficient work on the court, a good defense against Bam Adebayo, and a wider rotation. Goran Dragic alone scored more from the bench than all of Milwaukee’s bench. In the second game, the Floridians certainly have as good a chance of winning as their opponents. We think Miami will win. Somehow it is unlikely that the Heat will leave Milwaukee 0-2.

• Miami to win at odds of about 3.00;
• Miami to win with a handicap (+4.5) for around 2.00;
• Scoring a 3-pointer, Miami to win with a handicap (-3.5) for 1.90.