Miami Heat

Milwaukee Bucks: Grades From 106-88 Loss To Miami Heat

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:44 p.m. ET

Fansided, Adam McGee/FanSided via Behind the Buck Pass

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks failed to build on their previous win, losing to the Heat, and more importantly potentially losing Jabari Parker to a devastating injury.

	1	2	3	4	T
Bucks	15	29	19	25	88
Heat	28	27	26	25	106

If Milwaukee Bucks fans had reached the point of needing a reminder that for as much as the team’s recent struggles are frustrating, they’re only a smaller part of what this team’s larger story will be, they had one delivered in the cruelest possible fashion on Wednesday.

Much like how an individual’s many smaller problems can be rendered less significant in the light of a more significant scare, as Jabari Parker was helped off the court with a knee injury in the third quarter against the Heat, the ups and downs of the season suddenly seemed lesser.

The Bucks gave up plenty of open threes against Miami, although that wasn’t ultimately what led to defeat as the Heat only shot 33 percent from distance. Rebounding was as big, if not an even bigger issue than it was on Friday in Denver. The offense stuttered throughout, and in spite of the Heat scoring less points per quarter as the game went on and never scoring over 28 in a period, the Bucks still fell short.

And for the most part, who cared?

If the Bucks could trade a bad February loss to a red-hot Miami Heat team for Jabari Parker’s health, they’d do so without a second thought. Bogged down in the details of one season, and one game, in what is hopefully going to be a much larger and illustrious story for this group, we were given a stark reminder that this all hinges on more than the now.

If the Bucks have even the slightest piece of luck on their side, perhaps Parker’s injury won’t be as bad as many feared at the moment it happened and in the aftermath. Even if that proves to be the case, though, the trivial nature of living game by game for a team with grand aspirations was exposed on Wednesday.

The season turned on this game, as whether the news surrounding Parker’s injury is good or bad, the shape and attitude of the team will likely change. The differences that arise in a losing spell mean little when confronted with the possibility of having to cope without one of your very best players, on the night when another one of your best players has just returned.

If the news for Parker proves to be bad, it will be interesting to see how his teammates react on the court. For now, we can only look at how they performed and reacted on Wednesday.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Starters

Matthew Dellavedova

G, Milwaukee Bucks

CA quiet game for Delly. Was inefficient in his shooting having missed a couple of runners, but made 1-2 from behind the three-point line. The Australian only played 15 minutes in total and although he didn’t register a single turnover in that time, the Bucks would certainly have liked more than just a single assist.

Tony Snell

G, Milwaukee Bucks

BSnell played heavy minutes as the Bucks tried to ease Middleton back into action, and although the box score doesn’t show it, he gave an admirable effort. He continued his recent hot shooting streak making 2-4 three-point attempts, and played aggressive, engaged defense for most of the game. It’s worth noting that Snell was responsible for back-to-back Heat open three-pointers from the left corner to open the game, but almost as if he took it personally, the energetic swingman fought back from that point to afford his opponents minimal space whenever possible.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

G/F, Milwaukee Bucks

B+A well-rounded, efficient scoring performance from the Greek Freak, who must now be wondering just how heavy the burden on his shoulders could be in the coming months. Giannis scored 22 points on 9-15 shooting, including 2-3 from deep, and threw in eight rebounds for good measure.

Jabari Parker

F, Milwaukee Bucks

B+Before the injury struck, Jabari was looking particularly effective and potentially the only real route the Bucks had to getting back in the game. When his teammates were floundering early on, Parker scored his team’s first eight points, and kicked on from there. At the time he left the game early in the third quarter he’d already scored 14 points and done so on 6-11 from the field. Let’s just hope we’ll get to see him put up points again really soon.

John Henson

C, Milwaukee Bucks

C-Aside from three surprising and impressive steals, Henson struggled in this one which isn’t exactly unexpected considering the matchup. Henson has always struggled when it comes to rebounding, and Hassan Whiteside made him and the Bucks pay as he finished with a 23 points, 16 rebounds night. Henson, himself, just managed five points and five rebounds.Next: Bench

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Bench

Greg Monroe

C, Milwaukee Bucks

CMoose never really got anything going offensively, although his size did at least help a little in terms of rebounding when he was on the floor. There’s not a whole lot that stands out about Monroe’ six points, seven rebounds showing, but it should be noted that Monroe played with an edge that some of his teammates lacked throughout.

Malcolm Brogdon

G, Milwaukee Bucks

B-Not for the first time this season, Brogdon struggled with his shot. The rookie made only 2-7 from the field, but that can be somewhat excused by his reliably efficient playmaking. Brogdon finished with six assists to go with his six points, and only a single turnover in 33 minutes of playing time as a negative check against that.

Michael Beasley

F, Milwaukee Bucks

BBeasley really had a rough time from the free throw line, going 3-7 at the stripe and visibly and audibly letting his frustrations be heard as the game progressed, but was arguably the Bucks’ most lively player after Parker’s exit. Beas was aggressive in looking to get to the rim, and as always, in taking his shots. His 11 points on 4-6 from the field made for a good showing.

Khris Middleton

G, Milwaukee Bucks

CNothing remarkable in terms of performance, but that was not what anyone was really wanting or expecting to see from Middleton in his first game back. Instead, the big positive was just seeing him back in uniform and on the floor in an NBA game. In line with the minutes restriction that had previously been outlined, he played only 15 minutes. In that time, Middleton grabbed five points, two assists and two rebounds. It’s just good to have him back.

Jason Terry

SG, Milwaukee Bucks

BAs has often been the case with Terry this season, he made a really nice impact operating around the periphery of the game in limited minutes. Terry was perfect from the field (2-2), had three assists to zero turnovers, and even showed great veteran savvy and defensive instincts with a picture perfect steal. Jason Terry was never going to define the Bucks season, but he has made positive contributions when given the chance.

Mirza Teletovic

F, Milwaukee Bucks

DIn spite of an early three-pointer falling, Teletovic was probably Milwaukee’s worst player on the night. Mirza went 1-5 from the field in 13 minutes of action. It is worth noting though that the Bucks were again a positive with the Bosnian on the floor. There’s a strong argument to be made that the team is buoyed by the spacing he offers, but at this point it’s fair to ask for more from him too. If he helps the team missing shots, making some every once in a while could make a big difference.Next: Jason Kidd

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Head Coach

Jason Kidd

Coach, Milwaukee Bucks

Roy Hibbert would have helped the Bucks to contain Hassan Whiteside, but it’s not fair to criticize Kidd for his exclusion without knowing the status of Hibbert’s injury problems or his understanding of how the team plays just yet. When Jabari went down, any real chance of a comeback disappeared, and in that sense there are elements of this game that therefore can’t be solely pinned on coaching.

The problem is that we’ve reached a point where his style and decisions cumulatively merit concern, questioning and debate. Even the smaller things that may seem not to be directly his fault from a perspective deeply locked in and aware of every move this team makes, may point to more systematic failings on his part for those looking on from a more detached viewpoint. Regardless, times are tough for Jason Kidd and he’s going to have to find answers.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Opposition

Miami Heat

Southeast, 23-30

The Milwaukee Bucks are now 22-29 and are next in action on Friday night when the Los Angeles Lakers visit Milwaukee.