For the second time in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves down heading into Game 2 after dropping the series opener. It happened in their first round series against the Orlando Magic, and it happened again in the Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the Miami Heat, which took 1-0 lead in their series after a 115-104 win in Game 1. Now all eyes are on Giannis Antetokounmpo.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, they are just the fourth top-seeded team to lose Game 1 in each of their first two playoff series, and one of those other teams went on to win the NBA title.

But even if history isn’t on their side, it’s still too soon to write off a team with reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the league’s best record. However, there was some cause for concern for Milwaukee in the loss, from their inability to stop Jimmy Butler to their struggles in the paint and on the free throw line.

Here are some three things the Bucks can do in Game 2 to pull even in their series against the surging Heat:

1. Slow down Jimmy Butler

If someone who isn’t a fan of the NBA watched Game 1 and was told that the best player in the world was playing in that game, they would likely have assumed it was Jimmy Butler. That’s because the Heat forward was on another level in the series opener, dropping a playoff career-high 40 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter and making 13 of 20 shots. He was especially brilliant in the fourth quarter, as he seemingly had an answer every time the Bucks tried to close the gap. 

Even though Butler has been playing at a high level for Miami this season, it’s important for the Bucks to slow him down in Game 2 for them to have a chance at tying the series. Much of the talk after the Game 1 defeat was why Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t ask to guard Butler in the fourth quarter when he did his damage, especially in light of him being announced as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

It doesn’t actually have to be the Great Freak who needs to guard him throughout the game, but for the Bucks to avoiding falling into a 0-2 hole, they need to put the defensive clamps on Butler. 

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo Needs Get Clutch

Bucks news: Giannis Antetokounmpo explains why he didn't guard Jimmy Butler in crunch time

While Butler seemed to make every shot that he took in crunch time in Game 1, Antetokounmpo struggled mightily for the Bucks, scoring just three points, making just one of four shots, and committing three turnovers in the fourth quarter. Compounding his woes were his struggles on the line, as he made just one of four free throws in the fourth. Even if he finished with a near-triple double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, more will be expected from the presumptive MVP of the season, especially in the endgame. 

Perhaps the Bucks have become a victim of their own success early in the season, when they had the league’s best offense and routinely blew out teams. Milwaukee owned the league’s best point differential by a huge margin at 10.1, which means that the team and their MVP rarely experienced playing in close games for most of the season.

But games in the playoffs are bound to be more closely-contested, and Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to prove that he can not only shine in a blowout, but also deliver when needed in a close game. Whether it’s making his free throws, being more aggressive, and guarding the opponent’s best player, it’s up to the league MVP to prove that the world’s best player can perform when his team needs him most. 

3. Dominate inside

Unlike in their Game 1 loss to the Magic in the first round, where they fell behind early on thanks to impeccable shooting by Orlando, the Bucks actually had a strong start in Game 1, racing to a 40-29 lead after the first quarter. Milwaukee, however, was unable to sustain their fast start, and part of that was because they were bullied inside by a smaller Heat team. 

Miami finished the game out-rebounding the Bucks, 46-34, including a 12-7 edge on the offensive glass. That gave the Heat nine more shot attempts, which is huge in a game that was only decided in the final minutes. Pulling down 24 rebounds for a team that averaged a league-leading 59.4 during the regular season is surprising, and something that needs to change if the Bucks hope to get back in the series.

 The Heat also scored 42 points in the paint compared to just 24 by Milwaukee, a season low for the Bucks. This is despite the fact that the Bucks averaged 48.7 points in the paint during the season, which was tied for 10th in the league. If they hope to prevent a Miami team that remains undefeated in the playoffs so far from taking a 2-0 lead and putting them on the brink, the Bucks also have to win the battle in the paint.