Bucks vs. Heat Game 4 Preview: On Their Last Legs

I know how tough it has been for you Milwaukee Bucks fans. The once dominant team we watched all season has disappeared into thin air, enveloped by a superior Miami Heat squad that seems dead set on ripping our hearts out as impolitely as possible. The good news is today’s game may be the last time you’ll have to deal with said heartbreak, with the Bucks facing a “lose and go home” situation for however long this series lasts.

Bucks Update

One of the most frustrating aspects of Friday’s 115-100 loss to go down 3-0 in the series was that the Bucks were finally stringing together competent play. Even with a struggling Giannis Antetokounmpo, their offense looked like it had small signs of life and they weren’t turning it over at an exponential rate. Then, it all came tumbling down in the fourth quarter, culminating in the largest 4th quarter point differential (27) in the playoffs since 1955. It was flat out embarrassing, and Jimmy Butler took the team to task while Wes Matthews waited on the bench. This has all been so sad, and we’re staring down a looooooong offseason now, I can’t decide if I want the Bucks to put up a fight and prolong the series or just rip the band-aid off.

To make matters worse, Giannis is questionable.

Player to Watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Following his ankle turn in Game 3, he just didn’t look the same athletically. Given his questionable status, he will bear close monitoring here too. He was visibly grimacing for stretches of the last game. For all the horrendous coaching on Bud’s part, Giannis looking completely human this entire series has been a massive reason this team is in the hole it is right now. For his part, it sounds like he’s ready to go down swinging if coach Bud would be willing to play him more than 35 minutes.

Heat Update

Heat fans couldn’t be happier. They still haven’t tasted the sting of defeat in the Playoffs and they’re one win away from going 6-1 against this Milwaukee Bucks team for the season. Not the best stat if you’re a Bucks fan. They continue to find contributions up and down the roster, and when that fails, Jimmy Butler has found ways to manufacture points even against fairly sterling defense by Wes Matthews. Jae Crowder seems to be getting uncontested looks whenever he wants, something the Bucks can’t say for themselves.

Provided Miami doesn’t have a truly historic meltdown, they will be advancing to their first Conference Finals since LeBron left after the 2013-14 season with a win.

Player to Watch: Goran Dragic

Dragic finally scored under 20 points for the first time this series in Game 3, finishing with 15 points on 6/15 shooting. He’s been crushing the Bucks with his shooting, floaters and passing throughout every game, even after Eric Bledsoe returned from his hamstring issue. If Milwaukee wants any hope of prolonging this series, they need to get Goran under control and force tougher shots than what he’s been converting thus far.