After blasting the Chicago Bulls with their 15-1 late scorching rally, the Miami Heat finally advanced to the playoffs in courtesy of their 102-91 home dub. But what awaits them is a familiar, daunting, top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks team that posted the best regular season record throughout the association this year.
For lead man Jimmy Butler, the upcoming test that will be offered by Milwaukee is truly going to be challenging, but his unwavering faith remains glowing for his Miami troop that they will be able to withstand the storm of the regular season kings.
“You’re talking about MVP in GA [Giannis Antetokounmpo], all the shooting, how together they are, they’ve been together for a while. It’s going to be tough. It is. Milwaukee has some great fans that are always showing up and showing out. So like I said, we got to play damn near perfect basketball which we’re capable of,” Butler said in his presser following the Heat’s Play-In victory against the Bulls. “Play hard, stick together through the good, through the bad; we are one.”
This marks the third time in four seasons that both rival teams will meet for a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference bracket. Miami drew first blood within the 2020 NBA Bubble as they overwhelmed Milwaukee in the second-round, but the Bucks proceeded to bounce back the following year via four-game sweep in the first-round.
In terms of the 2022-23 campaign, both clubs splitted their four-game season series. Butler appeared on all of the occasions, averaging 22 points, 6.2 boards, 1.7 assists in 55.2 percent shooting.
“I think we’re gonna be okay. Let this season go, let this playing go zero-zero and then get to work,” Butler concluded.
The Bucks and the Heat are set to collide on their Game 1 showdown as the stage is set within Fiserv Forum for their first-round war this Sunday.
