A couple observations, as we head into Game 2 of the Miami Heat at the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
First, “Wired for Sound,” does not ever need to be Duncan Robinson again. They played three clips, and they were all basically Robinson going, “Come on!.” I don’t think anyone, Robinson included, would have been offended for just not playing any of the clips.
Listen to Game 2 of Heat at Bucks on WKTY.
Coverage begins at 6 p.m. on 96.7 FM / 580 AM
Also don’t think we’ll see another player called for a 10-second violation on a free throw, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was with just over a minute to play in regulation of Game 1.
Though the Bucks pulled out the opening win, they should be worried. They won by two and Jimmy Butler shot 4-for-22 from the field and 2 of 9 from beyond the arc. He’s likely not going to shoot that poorly again. In fact, he’s never shot that poorly ever in his career — when he shoots at least 15 times. That’s 11 seasons and 271 career games.
It’s also strange he took that many 3-pointers. He was coming off a 4-of-4 performance from deep, so maybe he was heat-checking himself for an entire game. Before that, he’d only taken eight 3-pointers in a game once this season, and six 3-pointers twice. Other than that, he’s never shot more than four in a game this season.
On a more positive note, the Jrue Holiday trade paid off. The 30-year-old guard had a ridiculously quiet 20 points on 9-for-18 shooting (0-5 from 3) with 11 rebounds and 3 steals, which I believe all went for layups. He also blocked Butler’s final shot in overtime.
While the Bucks outscored the Heat 56-24 in the paint, Miami outscored Milwaukee 60-15 from the 3-point line. NBA teams are now 73-2 all-time in games where they make 15 more 3s than their opponent — Miami was 20-for-50 and Milwaukee was 5 of 31.
The Bucks sure are awful defending the 3-pointer. You’d think, with the “new” NBA jacking 3s for about four or five seasons now, they’d figure it out.
Lastly, Pat Connaughton played 10 minutes. That is all.
On a side note, and this is perhaps, for the entire playoffs, but can we stop with every semi-hard looking foul meaning the player fouled needs to lie on the floor like he was just shived, so the refs feel they have to review it?
Butler did this two or three times. LeBron James was perhaps the worst. Khris Middleton did it in overtime and got the review. And, while the review was happening, Milwaukee played some weird techno/polka music during the timeout, which seemed a little out of place.
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)