The top three seeds in the Eastern Conference went on to compile a 12-1 record in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Oddly enough, it was the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks that incurred the lone defeat. Still, Mike Budenholzer’s squad bulldozed its way to the Eastern Conference semifinals by way of taking four straight from the Magic by an average of 14.5 points per game and went 3-1 against the closing NBA odds in the process. The Miami Heat were extremely impressive in their sweep of the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers defeating T.J. Warren and company by an average of 10.5 points per game to cover the closing number each time. Miami will enter this series confident knowing full well it took the two regular season meetings before getting worked in the lone bubble standoff, but I got a feeling Milwaukee’s length and ability to shut the paint down will see it punch its ticket back to the Eastern Conference Finals when it’s said and done.
This series will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. Tip-off is scheduled for Monday, August 31, 2020 and go to Saturday, September 12 should a seventh game be needed to decide the outcome. All games will be aired live on TNT, ESPN and NBATV. You can bet on NBA Odds at BookMaker.eu the remainder of the playoffs.
NBA Series Prices
Miami Heat +418
Milwaukee Bucks -520
Heat vs Bucks Series Schedule
Game 1: Mon, Aug 31 Miami at Milwaukee, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Wed, Sep 2 Miami at Milwaukee, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Fri, Sep 4 Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 4: Sun, Sep 6 Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 5*: Tue, Sep 8 Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
Game 6*: Thur, Sep 10 Milwaukee at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 7*: Sat, Sep 12 Miami at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
Futures Odds Analysis
After busting the brooms out on the Indiana Pacers, Miami saw its odds to win the Eastern Conference shorten up from +985 to +825 meaning a $100 investment on the Heat would return $925 overall including the original stake. It’s odds to win the NBA title currently check in at 20-1 which is still an awfully good rate of return as confident Erik Spoelstra’s team looks right now. As for Milwaukee, it’s the -119 chalk to win the East after coming up short to Toronto last season. It sits behind the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers on the NBA title odds at +323.
Head-To-Head Results
The Heat got the best of the Bucks in the pair of regular season meetings. The first occurred in Milwaukee way back on October 26 when Goran Dragic led the charge with a team-high 25 points to help lead Miami to the 131-126 outright win and cover as 11.5-point Fiserv Forum underdogs. They followed it up with an even more impressive 105-89 outright win and cover as 5-point home dogs when Giannis and company paid a visit to South Beach. But it was the Bucks that got the last laugh in the bubble during the seeding round. Milwaukee found itself down 73-56 at halftime, but then proceeded to outscore the Heat 74-43 over the game’s final 24 minutes to secure the 130-116 win and cover as 9.5-point favorites. Jimmy Butler did however miss that game due to a shoulder injury that’s still bothering him entering Monday’s series opener.
Heat Player to Watch
Bam Adebayo: The Heat is going to have their hands full whenever Milwaukee decides to take the ball to the rack. Lacking numerous interior defenders that can make life a living hell for any of the Bucks’ bigs, Adebayo will be looked upon as the enforcer. He’s done a sensational job limiting “The Greek Freak” in the past. In the three games he guarded him this season, he limited the soon to be MVP to a paltry 42.9 shooting percentage and only sent him to the line five times. With Giannis likely to get his as he pleases, it will be up to the former Kentucky Wildcat to limit the carnage.
Bucks Player to Watch
Khris Middleton: Milwaukee’s multi-faceted big man was nowhere to be found early on in the series with the Magic. The former Texas A&M Aggie knocked down just 12-of-37 shots from the field and averaged a disturbing 11.0 points per game through Game 3. Thankfully, he rediscovered his scoring touch in games 4 and 5 by averaging 21.0 points per game whole knocking down 7-of-15 shots from beyond the arc. If he’s to disappear early on in this series against a confident Heat club, Milwaukee might not have enough horses to overcome this time around. Miami is a much better team than that of the Orlando Magic. His success will have a big impact on the likely winner of what’s certain to be a grueling series.
NBA Odds Pick
If Miami does a better job of taking care of the basketball and continues hitting at a high clip beyond the arc, the top seed in the East will be on upset alert. If not, Giannis and his mates will make quick work of the Heat to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals a second straight season. Bucks supporters will be quick to point to the bubble meeting between these teams as the outlier to support Milwaukee on the series odds. Hopefully they dig a bit deeper into the box score before thinking that bet is easy money. Miami held a 17-point halftime lead in that game.
Sure, the Heat blew it in the second half, but keep in mind they were without the services of Jimmy Buckets who would’ve likely been a calming presence for the team once Milwaukee battled all the way back. Either way, I foresee this series being a war. No team save for Boston has been more impressive in the East down in Orlando than Miami. It seriously wouldn’t be a shock if they found a way to outlast the Bucks, but I simply just have Milwaukee pegged as being the better overall team. Regardless, I got a feeling this series goes the distance so buckle up!
Prediction: Bucks in 7
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