Podcast: Did Heat miss its chance to upset Bucks? And why offseason will be so challenging
The Miami Heat landed the first punch in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, but the Milwaukee Bucks countered.
Really, it was a haymaker.
Even without superstar post player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks routed the Heat, 138-122, on Wednesday in Milwaukee, and David Wilson and Barry Jackson, a columnist at the Miami Herald, are back to break it down on a new episode of the Heat Check podcast.
The big question after Miami’s loss in Game 2: Did the Heat blow its chance to upset the Bucks by dropping Game 2 at Fiserv Forum?
The series is now tied at 1-1.
By the time the series shifts to the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday, Antetokounmpo could be back from his lower back bruise and Milwaukee could be ready to pull away from the Heat, especially with guard Tyler Herro out for at least a month after breaking his hand in Game 1 on Sunday.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad for Miami up in Wisconsin. The Heat did win Game 1 to snatch away home-court advantage from the Bucks and star forward Jimmy Butler proved he has the capability to steal a few more wins with the way he has played to start the series. Miami needs more from All-Star center Bam Adebayo, though, and is now searching for a replacement for Herro after its starting lineup got outscored in the first quarter Wednesday — even with Milwaukee missing Antetokounmpo.
Injuries are still defining this series and will make it unpredictable until Antetokounmpo returns, but it’s hard not to feel like the Heat let an opportunity slip away with their loss to a short-handed opponent in Game 2.
No matter how this series and postseason ends, Miami will have a challenging offseason ahead and Jackson breaks down why.
As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published April 20, 2023 at 12:40 PM.
