The Milwaukee Bucks just became the sixth team in NBA history to lose their first-round series as the No. 1 seed after a historic Jimmy Butler performance led the Heat to win Game 5 and eliminate Milwaukee with a ‘gentleman’s sweep’.
Fans around the NBA are stunned, given the incredible hype the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo had until they met playoff Jimmy and the Miami Heat. Miami won Game 5 128-126 in OT.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 27, 2023
Analyst Kevin O’Connor went in on the incredibly poor decision-making from Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
What a collapse by the Bucks. Awful half court offense with too many stagnant post ups. Giannis took some goofy pull ups. Awful coaching by Budenholzer—not using the timeout, not keeping Lopez in to protect the rim on the game-tying lob, and so many tactical choices.
Why didn’t… pic.twitter.com/kuMIUsuat5
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) April 27, 2023
Everyone is calling it as they saw it. The Milwaukee Bucks choked this series away, especially with the double-digit leads they enjoyed in both Games 4 and 5.
All time choke job from the Bucks bruh, I'm still in disbelief.
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 27, 2023
The Bucks didn’t even get a final shot off in OT, as Grayson Allen ended up dribbling into the box as time expired.
Grayson Allen with 2 seconds left and the Bucks’ season on the line https://t.co/ue3sNthBuD
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) April 27, 2023
The Bucks had a timeout left in the fourth quarter with 0.8 seconds left that coach Mike Budenholzer bizarrely didn’t take, causing fans to be furious with him.
Mike Budenholzer when the Bucks lose but at least he saved a few timeouts pic.twitter.com/hOgFoGVMzu
— 🦌 (@SnellSZN) April 27, 2023
Jimmy Butler’s fourth-quarter takeover drew more comparisons with Michael Jordan.
Jimmy Butler every 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/SMSSIFhcVv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2023
Bill Simmons even referred to Jimmy Butler as a God after he tied the game with 0.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
ALL HAIL JIMMY BUTLER OUR NEW GOD
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 27, 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo has ended up on the wrong side of one of the most historic comebacks in NBA history and is being mocked endlessly for the same.
I don’t even wanna hear people say Giannis is the best player in the world. Idc what the stats say, he sold like crazy late in that game. Charging like Derrick Henry into the paint, missing free throws and a terrible closeout on Strus that basically game Miami the win
PATHETIC pic.twitter.com/3Y1aU1PTK0
— omo von doom (@yungmustard23) April 27, 2023
Giannis had 38 points and 20 rebounds but has a number of bad plays in the fourth quarter and OT and will be held to the fire for this collapse. He also went 10-23 from the free throw line in a shocking display.
Jimmy Butler put up 42 in a late-game masterclass, surrounded by a big 22-point night from Gabe Vincent and a 20-point triple-double from Bam Adebayo.
A Historic Collapse Leading To Massive Changes
The fallout in Milwaukee is going to be historic after this loss. Coach Mike Budenholzer had a disastrous performance in this series and is likely going to be axed. The Bucks have an aging core with very few draft assets to overhaul the roster, so they’ll need to start to break up the 2021 title core after this collapse.
The Heat, on the other hand, will continue in the playoffs with their injured core. Tyler Herro isn’t expected to be available before the tail-end of the playoffs, so Butler will hope to produce these performances against the New York Knicks in the second round. Given how strong they’ve looked so far, it’ll be a fascinating matchup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will need to re-evaluate his immediate future after this loss that nobody expected them to face. It’s going to be a long offseason for the man many believed should win MVP this season.
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