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Game Thread: Bucks/Heat

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 (image dwyanewadeuniverse.com)

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vs.

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31-42 (11-26 road)
38-34 (25-11)
March 28, 2009 - 6:30 PM CT
AmericanAirlines Center
Radio: 620 WTMJ   TV: FS Wisconsin

Probable starters:

Ramon Sessions
PG Mario Chalmers
Luc Mbah a Moute
SG Dwyane Wade
Richard Jefferson
SF Jamario Moon
Charlie Villanueva
PF Udonis Haslem
Francisco Elson
C Jermaine O'Neal
103.6  (23rd)
Off (17th) 104.8
104.9 (14th)
Def (13th) 104.7
95.1 (11th)
Pace (21st) 92.6
28.4 (7th)
OReb (25th) 24.7
74.1 (11th) DReb (20th) 72.5

 

08/09 Series:

Dec. 15: Bucks 98 @Heat 83

The Bucks lost with unimaginable regularity from time to time last season.  And a couple of the lowest of the low points came against Miami in the span of less than a week in mid-March. The Bucks atoned for the worst we saw in 2008, just in time for the upcoming new year.

Jan. 14: Heat 102 @Bucks 99

Alexander's viral campaign for the dunk contest has contrasted his limited role on the court, and with all the speculation about the possible trade to Memphis it seems strange to be talking about his actual game.  But Alexander showed he's more than just hype, pacing himself enough to flash his all-around skills with 13 points (6/8 fg), five boards and five assists in 17 energizing minutes.  Alexander easily led the Bucks with a +16 differential.

Injuries

Heat: None.

Bucks: Michael Redd (torn ACL and MCL) and Andrew Bogut (stress fracture in lower back) are out. 

Three Points

  • Cold Heat. Miami has dropped two in a row and five of seven, putting them in a precarious position. The Heat currently lead the Sixers by just half a game for the East's fifth playoff spot. Staying in the five spot means a first-round date with Atlanta, while falling to sixth would result in a much more difficult first-round foe: Boston or Orlando. As such, the final couple weeks are extremely important to Miami. The Bucks, trailing the Pistons by four games for the final playoff spot with nine games remaining, don't have much of a chance to make the playoffs anymore, but they can play the spoiler role.
  • Far away win. The away team won each of the first two matchups this season, an encouraging trend considering tonight's venue. However, a closer look reveals that fact isn't worth reading into. When the Bucks beat the Heat in Miami more than three long months ago, a couple of players called Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut (remember them?) were the stars of the show. The Bucks aren't the only team here with new starters either; Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon give Miami a decidedly different look.
  • D'ing Dwyane. Milwaukee has held former Marquette star Dwyane Wade to his lowest point average (16.0) and field goal percentage (27.8 %) of any team in the NBA this season. Holding those numbers down will be no easy task. Making a late MVP charge, Wade is having an epic March, averaging 33.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks on .503/.365/.765. Oh My-ami.

Coverage

Bucks.com / Ira Winderman / Peninsula is Mightier