'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Miami Heat greeted the 2021-22 NBA season at the FTX Arena with a punishing win over the depleted defending champions Milwaukee Bucks.
Months after getting the broom in last year's postseason, the retooled Miami Heat wasted no time letting the Milwaukee Bucks know that it will be vastly different this season. Erik Spoelstra's team blasted off the gates with a crippling 22-3 run inside the first six minutes of the game.
A tremendous display of scorching hot scoring and suffocating defense promptly took the fight out of the Milwaukee Bucks. The 40-17 score ending the first quarter looked more lopsided than the score suggested.
After the Miami Heat made quick work of the Milwaukee Bucks, here are five talking points to ruminate on:
#1 The grit and grind Miami Heat
The Miami Heat's culture of no-nonsense blue-collar work was very evident right out of the gates. When the Heat acquired Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris in the offseason, that culture became an incessant drum in the background.
Last season, when the Milwaukee Bucks dusted off the Miami Heat in four games in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton swallowed up the Heat's frontline.
With P.J. Tucker around and Markieff Mrieff coming off the bench, that was hardly the case in this game, particularly with Lopez sidelined with an injury. The Miami Heat frontline was more than up to the task of jostling and muscling out the Milwaukee Bucks' frontcourt.
The backcourt also got a boost of hard-nosed determination with Kyle Lowry's addition. He brings such a dogged mentality to his game that it is noticeable with every defensive play, particularly when he disrupts the passing lanes or draws a charge.
The Miami Heat doubled down on Jimmy Butler's personality, and it will pay huge dividends for them as the lengthy season moves along.
#2 The Tyler Herro Recognition Tour starts
During the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals, Tyler Herro introduced himself to the basketball world with incredible shooting and solid overall play against the Boston Celtics. In a few games in that series, he was arguably the best player on either team.
Last season, despite a career-high in points per game at 15.1, his main calling card - shooting - regressed. He wasn't as aggressive, and his play was often hesitant. How badly he played in the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks captured the way his whole season happened.
This season, he has gone on record saying that he wants to be mentioned in the same conversation as superstars Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Ja Morant.
The preseason could be the start of Tyler Herro's recognition tour. He was the Miami Heat's most productive player in each of the games he played.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks team that humbled him and the Miami Heat last season, Tyler Herro was purposeful in his moves. He caught the Bucks' attention on defense every time he was on the floor.
Herro finished with 27 points underlined by terrific shooting, making 10 of 18 FG attempts with 4-8 three-point shooting. He looked like the shooting guard who caused headaches for Brad Stevens and Frank Vogel in Miami's trip to the 2020 NBA Finals.
#3 The Milwaukee Bucks have not been able to replace P.J. Tucker
The Milwaukee Bucks' championship rightly rested on the broad shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo and will likely do so in the foreseeable future. Khris Middleton was a punishing scoring machine, particularly when in the clutch. Jrue Holiday orchestrated the plays and hounded the opposing team's backcourt.
Probably lost in the celebration and euphoria was P.J. Tucker's unbelievable play, especially on defense. He is more than the glue guy that every team needs to contend for the NBA title. He was a do-it-all player who willingly sacrificed his body to get the win.
What the Milwaukee Bucks were missing was on full display in their game against the Miami Heat. P.J. Tucker was all over the place. He jostled with the Greek Freak, harassed Khris Middleton and even dove into the crowd to save a loose ball.
In only 22 minutes of play, he had the highest net rating on the Miami Heat roster. The Heat outscored the Milwaukee Bucks by 31 points when Tucker was on the court for Erik Spoelstra.
That's the kind of contribution he will put out night after night and twice on Sundays for the Miami Heat. The Milwaukee Bucks have not been able to find someone that comes close to what Tucker brings to the table.
#4 The Milwaukee Bucks' worrying depth at the point guard spot
The Milwaukee Bucks played it safe with their All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday has had a long summer after playing at the Tokyo Olympics with teammate Khris Middleton. The point guard played a starring role in Team USA's gold medal-winning accomplishment.
A long grind and extended minutes could complicate things for the Milwaukee Bucks. Jrue Holiday was unable to return in the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a right heel contusion.
With Holiday out, the Milwaukee Bucks will have to make do with George Hill and Justin Robinson. In 30 games last season split between the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder, Hill averaged 8.7 points, 2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He shot 38.8% 3FG, which is basically his career average.
However, it's the team's ability to penetrate defenses that severely drops off without Jrue Holiday. Holiday's importance on defense is emphasized with P.J. Tucker now plying his trade with the Miami Heat.
George Hill is also on the wrong side of 30 and could himself get injured. Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson are not the fastest players on the Miami Heat's roster, but it seemed like Hill was always a step late on defense. The Milwaukee Bucks' title defense could fail if the point guard depth is not addressed.
#5 Khris Middleton looked gassed against the Miami Heat
After helping the Milwaukee Bucks end half a century of championship deprivation, Khris Middleton took his talents to Tokyo to help the US Men's basketball capture the gold medal.
Along with Jrue Holiday, they have been playing continuous basketball for practically the whole year. The success, grind and everyday routines can be mentally and physically draining.
The Miami Heat have been waiting several months for another crack at the same team that quickly dismissed them out of the playoffs last season. While the Heat were chomping at the bit to go at it, it seemed like Middleton was coasting early on. It only worsened when the first quarter ended 40-17 in the Heat's favor.
It could be that the Miami Heat's defense and aggression completely took him out of the game quickly. Or it could be something that will be a consistent theme throughout the 2021-22 campaign.
Guess the Lakers players!
