Miami Heat Too Excited To Complain About Lack Of Rest

The Miami Heat spent the last week in an NCAA Tournament-like experience, playing two elimination games.

Now, they get the NBA playoff experience.

After two tough games, they face the well-rested Milwaukee Bucks today in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bucks last played April 9, with many of their starters resting that game.

"We have great respect for them," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We feel like we're Navy SEALs, just drop us in the parachutes and let's go compete."

The Heat and Bucks meet for the third time in four postseasons. This time, the Heat are the heavy underdog as the No. 8 seed. That hasn't slowed their confidence.

"Ultimately, we have have a bigger purpose that we're trying to do and we understand who's in front of us," Spoelstra said. "We have great competitors in the locker room, though. We're grateful that we have this opportunity to the line up against them. This was a very harrowing week and I think our guys earned this opportunity."

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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