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Giannis Antetokounmpo Destroys Jimmy Butler and Miami Heat by Discrediting 2020 Finals Run: “Miami Was Built to Be an NBA Bubble Team”

Published 01/18/2022, 5:30 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Before their glorious success in 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks underwent heartbreak on multiple occasions. In 2020, they were shockingly destroyed by Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. In spite of Giannis Antetokounmpo being in fine touch that year, their campaign was cut short in a brutal fashion. However, the Greek star recently made some sly comments against the Heat and their run in 2020.

Close to two years ago, the Miami Heat had one of their best outings in the recent past. The side made it all the way to the NBA Finals, where they lost out to the unstoppable Los Angeles Lakers. Jimmy Butler was the anchor for Miami, but what made them so destructive was their team effort.

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Before reaching the summit clash, the Heat conquered Giannis and the Bucks in Round-2. Erik Spoelstra had his best season since 2013, while the Bucks didn’t know what hit them. However, was their run a fluke, like many claimed it to be?

Giannis Antetokounmpo feels 2020 Miami Heat was a ‘bubble team’

USA Today via Reuters

In 2020, the world was hit with a global pandemic. Rules changed, and multiple teams suffered due to health concerns. It was a season like none other in the NBA. In Round-2 of the playoffs, the Miami Heat absolutely decimated Milwaukee in five games. In spite of their run, many fans reiterated that it was just a one-time lucky show.

Recently addressing the year before their title run, 27-year-old Giannis undermined the Heat’s 2020 outing. Interestingly, Miami was massacred in Round-1 of last year’s playoffs. Talking about the 2020 series, Antetokounmpo said, “[2020] ended with Miami.”

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“I don’t make excuses as an athlete, but it wasn’t a satisfying year for me because I felt like if it was a normal situation, it wouldn’t end up like that. But at the end of the day, I felt like Miami was built to be an NBA bubble team, you know?”

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Along with Giannis, other eminent personalities such as Charles Barkley have also lashed out at Miami’s ability to remain consistent only in the bubble. Was their 2020 season indeed a fluke? Leave your views in the comments.

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Written by:

Sankalp Harikrishnan

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Sankalp Harikrishnan is an NBA and Tennis writer at EssentiallySports. He aspires to pursue Sports Journalism and has represented his institution in cricket, badminton, soccer and table tennis. Sankalp idolises Roger Federer and Stephen Curry, and has an inherent love for statistics.
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