Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat: Combined starting 5 featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler

Small Forward - Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)

Jimmy Butler was the driving force behind the Miami Heat's run to the 2020 NBA Finals and also had a big series against the Milwaukee Bucks last year. In the 2020-21 NBA season, Butler had a slow start in the first two games, and an ankle sprain has not been helpful for him. His status remains day to day.

We all have that one friend we know we’ll never be able to charge full price for Big Face Coffee.@Goran_Dragic @JimmyButler bffs 🐰✌️ pic.twitter.com/QOv5sK4Zir
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 20, 2020

Expand Tweet

Butler averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game in the 2019-20 NBA season, his first with the Miami Heat.

In the NBA Playoffs, he led the team to the 2020 NBA Finals, and two historic performances in The Finals (including a 40-point triple-double) helped the Heat take two games from the mighty LeBron James and the LA Lakers.

Power Forward - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

The two-time reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is off to a good start of the 2020-21 NBA season, averaging 25.7 points in the Bucks' three outings. However, he'll have to shake off missing the potentially game-tying free throws at Boston on the Milwaukee Bucks' Opening Night.

It wouldn’t be #NBAXmas without a Giannis jam. pic.twitter.com/v6bWEF6ny2
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 25, 2020

Expand Tweet

Antetokounmpo is also averaging 13 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and he has made 47.3% of his field goals. That's a drop from last season (55.3%) and the year before (a career-best 57.8%). Moreover, his woes from the free-throw line continue, as he has made seven of 12 (58%) free throws.

Giannis' best games from the incipient season have come in the two losses for the Milwaukee Bucks. Still, the Bucks will go as far as Antetokounmpo takes them, and he should be able to have another historic season for Milwaukee.

Center - Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

Bam Adebayo was an NBA All-Star in his third season, and he was solid for the Miami Heat in their run to win the Eastern Conference. Adebayo averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game in last year's regular season and made 56% of his field goals.

Moreover, the 23-year-old is arguably the Miami Heat's best defender as he can protect the rim efficiently and is quick enough to defend some guards.

Adebayo was a huge piece of the Miami Heat's run to the 2020 NBA Finals, as his defense was big for them, especially in the Eastern Conference finals.

In the NBA Finals, Adebayo missed a couple of games and was not fully healthy, as Miami suffered a series loss to the LA Lakers.

Also read: New York Knicks 130-110 Milwaukee Bucks: Twitter stunned as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday routed at MSG