As the Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2021 NBA playoffs, they will have to do so without their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is expected to miss at least the first two games of the series due to an ankle injury. However, this is not the first time Antetokounmpo has been sidelined in the postseason, and the Bucks have learned to adapt and adjust their game plan accordingly. One of the biggest surprises so far has been the emergence of Brook Lopez as a dominant force on both ends of the court, leading the team to play “big” and dominate their opponents. In this article, we will explore how the Bucks have been able to adjust their game plan in the absence of their star player and how this could impact their playoff run.
The Milwaukee Bucks dominated the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series even without their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are known to be a jump-shooting team, and only two teams had a lower percentage of shots in the paint in the regular season. However, in the absence of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks took advantage of their size and played bigger in Game 2, scoring 52 points in the paint, which was their third-most in 20 games without the Greek Freak this season. Brook Lopez led the way for the Bucks, scoring 25 points, with 18 of them coming from the paint.
The Heat started with a small lineup, with 6-foot-5 Max Strus guarding 7-foot-1 Lopez. However, Lopez took advantage of this mismatch on their first possession, and the Heat abandoned their strategy in the second half. Bobby Portis posted up smaller defenders and got some easy jump hooks inside, scoring 14 points in Game 1. In Game 2, he established post position against Kyle Lowry in one possession and finished off Joe Ingles’ assist in the other.
The Bucks finished with 25 three-pointers, tying the NBA’s all-time record for a playoff game, but they made a conscious effort to dominate the paint early in the game. Whether or not Antetokounmpo is available for Game 3, the Heat will have to be better defensively inside and out.
While the Milwaukee Bucks suffer a major setback with the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, they have not let it deter their playoff run. Brook Lopez has stepped up to the plate, delivering huge performances and playing his role as a leader. The Bucks have proven that they can play big, even without their star player on the court. As they continue on their quest for the NBA Championship, their resilience and determination are sure to make for an exciting postseason. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the playoffs film study.
