Week in Sports - Tuesday July 6, 2021
NBA Finals Preview
Tonight is game one of the NBA Finals, where the Phoenix Suns will host the Milwaukee Bucks. If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that these would be the two teams who would be meeting in the finals, I wouldn't have believed it. If you would've told me again that this would be the finals matchup after the Brooklyn Nets acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets, I would've laughed in your face. But here we are, and to honest, I love it. Both teams made significant moves in the offseason to improve their odds of being here, and it paid off in spades.
Phoenix came on extremely hot last year in the bubble and made a huge push for the final playoff spot. The combination of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton was clearly a duo that many felt would be a young force to be reckoned with and they drew the eye of veteran point guard Chris Paul. CP3 has never won a championship, never been to a finals, but he's one of the greatest players to ever play the position. It can't be measured just how important of a signing he was for this young team, and there is no doubt, that he is the main reason this team was able to grow so quickly and find themselves in the NBA Finals.
For Milwaukee, let's be extremely clear, the number one reason they find themselves still playing, no matter what anybody tells you, is because they were able to re-sign their superstar player and 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Without Giannis re-signing, and playing at a high level throughout these playoffs, they would not have overcome a team like Brooklyn, despite their injuries. In addition, trading for Jrue Holdiay was the best move this team could have made to solidify that backcourt, as offensively and defensively, Holiday brings a completely different element to the team, that was vastly missing the last three years. Holiday's ability to handle the ball, shoot from three and finish contested shots at the rim has take so much pressure off of Giannis. Gone are the days where Giannis dribbles far too much and tries to create a shot while hitting his head against the wall. The offense became far more free flowing. And let's not forget about the toughness of PJ Tucker has added, which has helped change the culture of the ball club. This team certainly is not in the finals by accident.
Injury Impact
Despite both teams being very talented and worthy of representing each conference in the finals, let me be very clear, if Giannis is not healthy and playing in these finals, the Phoenix Suns will be world champions. The 2x MVP suffered a hyperextended left knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks, and though he avoided any structural damage, he hasn't played since. He is officially listed as doubtful for Game 1 on the injury report released by the Bucks. But it is the finals, and I wouldn't be surprised if he toughed it out and tried to play tonight. The guy is just too valuable to not have to account for when making any predictions about this series.
Yes, Khris Middleton was able to play very well in games 5 & 6 against the Hawks, and helped the team close out Atlanta without Giannis. But please don't be fooled into thinking that Middleton can or will give you that every night. I'm sorry, he shown himself to be extremely streaky, and will disappear on you many times on the road. He is a great #2 option though and very important to the teams success, so I am in now way trying to disrespect him. But all this talk about him being "Batman" is silly. Had Trae Young actually been healthy, and Giannis out, the Hawks are in the finals. The best player and true superstar of this series is "The Greek Freak", and without him, Milwaukee is the clear underdog. Getting him back will go a long way in determining the outcome here.
Yes, Khris Middleton was able to play very well in games 5 & 6 against the Hawks, and helped the team close out Atlanta without Giannis. But please don't be fooled into thinking that Middleton can or will give you that every night. I'm sorry, he shown himself to be extremely streaky, and will disappear on you many times on the road. He is a great #2 option though and very important to the teams success, so I am in now way trying to disrespect him. But all this talk about him being "Batman" is silly. Had Trae Young actually been healthy, and Giannis out, the Hawks are in the finals. The best player and true superstar of this series is "The Greek Freak", and without him, Milwaukee is the clear underdog. Getting him back will go a long way in determining the outcome here.
And I'm not trying to disrespect the Suns by saying everything is about Milwaukee, because they are a great young team who has excellent talent. However, let's call a spade a spade, much like you can say about Milwaukee, the Suns won their way to the finals by defeating undermanned teams along the way as well. The Lakers lost AD when they were up 2-1 in the series and starting to dominate; The Nuggets were without their star point guard Jamal Murray, and they got the Clippers with no Kawhi Leonard and still went to 6 games. One might say, that if not for some lucky breaks and Paul George and the Clippers could have won this series in 6 games.
But for The Suns to be world champions, they need their leading scorer and emerging young superstar Devin Booker to play like the best player on the floor every night. Booker has all the tools, he can handle the ball, score from three, he's excellent from the midrange, and he can finish at the rim. Booker has to be aggressive and draw extra attention from the Milwaukee defenders, which will create open shots for guys like Mikal Bridges from three, and Ayton diving to the basket. When Booker is passive, the Suns offense becomes too Chris Paul centric and Booker struggles to find a rhythm. Booker has to make Holiday work and try to get him in foul trouble.
But for The Suns to be world champions, they need their leading scorer and emerging young superstar Devin Booker to play like the best player on the floor every night. Booker has all the tools, he can handle the ball, score from three, he's excellent from the midrange, and he can finish at the rim. Booker has to be aggressive and draw extra attention from the Milwaukee defenders, which will create open shots for guys like Mikal Bridges from three, and Ayton diving to the basket. When Booker is passive, the Suns offense becomes too Chris Paul centric and Booker struggles to find a rhythm. Booker has to make Holiday work and try to get him in foul trouble.
In the end, I do believe the team who plays with the most intelligence will win this series. Both coaches in this series, Monty Williams and Mike Budenholzer, come from the Gregg Popovich tutelage, and if you know anything about me, you know I believe Pop is the greatest coach in NBA history. A Pop coached team will always play disciplined inside-out basketball, and stay true to basketball fundamentals. The most fundamentally sound team will win this series. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Charles Barkley when he calls the Bucks the dumbest team in the NBA sometimes. They have all the talent to dominate and pound the ball inside, but they insist on jacking up far too many three point shots. Sure, they make a lot, but when they are off, they go extremely cold and they fail to adjust. That will be the key to this series, whether Giannis plays or not.
In the end, I have to go with my gut. I'm picking the Milwaukee Bucks as the 2021 world champions.
In the end, I have to go with my gut. I'm picking the Milwaukee Bucks as the 2021 world champions.
