The Miami Heat’s last two first-round picks have been slam dunks. In 2017, they added versatile center and Most Improved Player of the Year finalist Bam Adebayo, and then in 2019 they brought in Mr. Bucket, Tyler Herro.
Both were lottery picks, and both have helped them take an absolutely demoralizing 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
As noted, teams have come back from 3-1 deficit. The Bucks would make history if they advanced to the conference finals.
To be fair, though, it is 2020.
That said, Game 3 was a steady flow of the two former Kentucky stars. While Jimmy Butler still lead the way for the Heat, Adebayo was arguably the most impactful player for Miami, totaling a game-high 16 rebounds.
Adebayo and Herro both notched double figures in Game 3, as did Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic. Those four are the only players on the Miami Heat to hit at least 10 points in all three games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
That should tell you everything about how important Adebayo and Herro are for this franchise. With a combined four years of experience, the duo will be the face of the Heat’s organizations in just a few seasons.
As for the series, the Bucks are in big trouble.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looks lost as the Heat put up a formidable wall whenever he catches the ball (and now there are rumors he could join the Heat as a free agent next year).
With players like George Hill, Eric Bledsoe, DiVincenzo not living up to expectations, expect Milwaukee to be heading home in the near future. Brook Lopez has been Milwaukee’s most efficient non-MVP player. Scoring over at least 16 points per game, the 7-footer has proved his worth.
If the Heat are able to finish off the Bucks, they’ll face the winner of Raptors vs. Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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