Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns
In a season filled with unexpected twists and turns, it has now come to an NBA Finals matchup that no one saw coming.
The Bucks and Suns are going to duel for the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy with both teams looking to end their championship droughts.
There’s plenty at stake for this highly-anticipated affair on the individual level as Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo are eager to finally win their first title.
Both MVP-calibre players have played a huge role in bringing their respective teams at the biggest stage and it will be interesting to see who will get the upper hand starting tomorrow.
Talking Points
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status is uncertain
Milwaukee’s hopes of winning their first NBA title since 1971 could hinge on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo can play at 100-per cent after suffering a knee injury during their ECF bout against Atlanta.
In Game 4, the two-time MVP fell awkwardly after contesting an alley-oop play and he has been on a day-to-day basis ever since.
The good news for the Bucks is that they didn’t skip a beat with his absence as Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday took charge and created multiple NBA 2021 highlights.
The guard duo have combined for at least 50 points in Game 5 and 6 and they also helped their teammates produce on the offencive end by handing out a healthy amount of assists.
Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez were two of the main recipients as they stepped up big to fill in the void left by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lopez top scored for the Bucks in Game 5 with 33 markers while Portis averaged 17.0 points per game when he was inserted into the starting lineup.
Although their offence looks fine without Antetokounmpo, his effect on the defencive end is profound and they’ll need to kick things up a notch against a red-hot Suns team.
Chris Paul and Devin Booker need to take over
The Suns have not been entirely immune to injuries themselves but they have managed to weather the storm en route to their first Finals since 1993.
Chris Paul missed the first few games in the WCF due to COVID-19 protocols and Devin Booker had a broken nose after colliding with Patrick Beverley also in the said series.
When one of them was out at any point during their playoff run, the Suns have struggled to a degree since they’re devoid of another great ball-handler and shot creator.
The two of them should be 100-per cent fit from here on out. Paul (18.1 ppg, 8.7 apg) and Booker (27.0 ppg, 4.8 apg) will have to establish themselves by dictating tempo and shoot well within their high-octane offence.
History
Chris Paul has waited 16 years for this moment and he’ll look to cap off the season with his first ring.
The 36-year-old came close to reaching his first Finals back in 2018 with the Rockets alongside James Harden. But all of their hopes went down the drain as Chris Paul was unable to play in Game 6 and 7 in the WCF due to an injured hamstring.
Meanwhile, for Giannis Antetokounmpo, he finally has a chance to show the world what he’s made of in the biggest stage after falling short in recent seasons.
When his Bucks were poised to make it to the Finals back in 2019, the Raptors won four straight games to overturn their 0-2 deficit and they eventually won the title with Kawhi Leonard as the Finals MVP.
With the Bucks and Suns left here in the Finals, the legendary Shaquille O’Neal streak has been broken. In the 37 seasons prior, a teammate of his has been to the NBA Finals.
Torrey Craig is technically an NBA champion regardless of who wins this series as he has played both for the Bucks and the Suns this season.
The Suns have won their two meetings against the Bucks this season, with both games decided by less than three points.
What are the odds?
The Suns are favoured to win by the SBOTOP NBA 2021 odds not only in Game 1, but for the whole series as well simply because they are the healthier team on paper.
Phoenix’s lowest spread in Game 1 at the Asian Handicap market is at -6.50 at 2.02, and you can bet for them to win in the money line at 1.40 while Milwaukee are at 3.00.
Giannis Antetokounmpo should play at some point in this series regardless of his Game 1 status. But with him being hampered, that should give the Suns the running start they need to win the first game.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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