Rogers' *10* TOP Eastern Conference Ticket >> Had Orlando Friday!
(NBA) Milwaukee vs. Miami,
Point Spread: -1.00 | -105.00 Miami (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks were routed 112-96 in Orlando last night and limp into Miami on a four-game slide and an overall record of 20-22. However, the Heat are suffering through one of the worst seasons in franchise history at 13-30.

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a 22-year-old 6-11 multi-positional athlete known as "The Greek Freak." He was named an All-Star on Thursday, Milwaukees' first in 31 years and he joins only five other Bucks All-Star starters in franchise history: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Dandridge, Brian Winters, Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson. He modest totals (for him) of 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, as the Bucks fell for the fourth straight time. Atetokounmpo (23.5-8.8-5.6) got a well-deserved starting spot for the All Star game but the Bucks' trouble has been that other than Jabari Parker (20.5 & 5.9), Antetokounmpo has had little help. Center Monroe (10.6 & 6.8) is doing a disappearing act so far this season and the team really misses Khris Middleton, who had surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is not expected to make his season debut until the middle of February (he led Milwaukee in scoring last year at 18.4 PPG).

Miami: The Heat's poor record hurts the All Star candidacy of their two best players. PG Goran Dragic averages 19.4 PPG and 6.3 APG plus center Hassan Whiteside is having a career year, averaging 17.3 PPG and leading the league in rebounds (14.2). He is also averaging 2.1 blocks, which is tied for fifth in the league. Miami actually has six other players averaging in double figures, although Winslow was recently lost for the season with a shoulder injury.

The pick: "We just have to find our way out of this slump," Parker said after Milwaukee's loss on Friday. "We'll find our way out of it. We need more enthusiasm. After the first quarter, we didn't have any momentum. We need to move on and win the next game." That sounds good but the Bucks are struggling. Meanwhile, Miami has shown some signs of life this week by beating the Houston Rockets 109-103 and the Dallas Mavericks 99-95 here at home. Let's also note that in two games against Miami this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging just 16.0 points. In 12 career games against Miami, his numbers are even more modest at 14.2 PPG. Miami is a 10* play.