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The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a weird start to their 2020-21 NBA season. Now, the 1-1 Miami Heat stand in the Bucks' path, and the two teams will face each on consecutive nights in Miami. The best team from last year's regular season is currently 1-2 after losing to the Boston Celtics on their opening night and suffering a shocking blowout loss to the New York Knicks.
These two teams met in the 2020 NBA Playoffs in Orlando. The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks to reach the Eastern Conference finals. There is more history between these teams, as the Miami Heat were one of three teams to beat the Bucks more than once in the last regular season. Also, NBA rumors suggested Miami was a possible destination for reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo before signing his contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat: Combined starting 5
Even though the Milwaukee Bucks were the best team in the 2019-20 NBA regular season, the Miami Heat handed them a tough loss in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Both teams have the firepower and multiple NBA All-Stars. On that note, let's take a look at a best combined starting 5 from both squads.
Point Guard - Goran Dragic (Miami Heat)
The Miami Heat have a semblance of what Manu Ginobili was for the San Antonio Spurs in Goran Dragic. The Slovenian has been a tremendous piece for the Miami Heat, and he is one of the most vocal leaders on the team. Even though he has become the Heat's sixth man over the last three years, his production remains solid.
Dragic was the Miami Heat's leading scorer during their postseason run in the 2020 NBA Playoffs until Jimmy Butler took over in the NBA Finals. He was the team's driving force on the offensive end during the Miami Heat's quest to win the East.
Dragic scored 20 points in the season-opening loss for the Miami Heat against the Orlando Magic. He then added 18 points off the bench in the team's Christmas Day win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
He has been efficient from the floor (shooting 58%), even though he has made only one of his eight attempts from the 3-point line.
Shooting Guard - Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Khris Middleton is the second-best offensive weapon of the Milwaukee Bucks, and his contribution is highly needed for the team. Despite the 1-2 record for the Milwaukee Bucks, Middleton averaged 26.7 points through the first three games and has made 53% of his field goals and 46% of his 3-pointers.
In last year's second-round matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat, Middleton averaged 26 points per game and led the Bucks to their only win of the series with 36 points in Game 4.
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.
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.
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.
