Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns
For the first time in quite some time there isn’t a super team in the NBA Finals. The Bucks and Suns have fought their way to this point and are now four wins away from an NBA Championship. Although this postseason has been filled with injuries this has been a breath of fresh air for the NBA. Ratings have risen because this is the first postseason since, probably, pre 2010 where you couldn’t predict at least one team in the Finals. To put this into context, this is the first NBA Finals since 2010, we will have a matchup of leading scorers who are still on their first team (Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo).
For the Milwaukee Bucks, they finished as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46-26. The Bucks have been on the cusp for the past few years coming up short in the postseason, but everyone knew they had the tools to reach the Finals. Now, here they are watching all the hard work this team has put into the past few years. From bringing back the development of Khris Middleton and Giannis to resigning Giannis, when everyone thought he would be on his way to a new team. The Bucks have shown dominance this postseason, but not without a few challenges along the way. They got their revenge on the Miami Heat in the first round, then proceeded to eliminate Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in a seven-game heavyweight fight. Lastly, they finished off the Atlanta Hawks in six games, even with their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextending his knee in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks have tremendous height and with the addition of Jrue Holiday, they now have two perimeter threats to go with Giannis. However, with Giannis’ health being a big question mark, we’ll see how the Bucks fair in this series.
The Suns defeated the Lakers in six-games, then eliminated the Nuggets in a four-game sweep and lastly, got rid of the never say die Clippers in six-games. Chris Paul one of the best Point Guards the NBA has ever seen, has reached his first Finals. He took a chance on this young core asking for the Thunder to trade him last offseason to Phoenix, but his belief in Head Coach Monty Williams, young star Center, Deandre Ayton, and of course Devin Booker. Many had the Suns pegged as a five or six seed in the Western Conference, but this team finished with the second-best record in the conference with a 51-21 record. As far as legacies go, this series has a lot riding on it. From, Chris Paul being able to win his first championship and solidifying himself as a top-5 Point Guard of all time, to Giannis being able to win his first championship at 26 and making him a top 25 player of all time, already, at such a young age. Even Devin Booker who has been called the next Kobe could do wonders for his legacy at the very young age of 24.
Players that aren’t stars who will have a big impact on this series. For the Bucks Bobby Portis has come on strong and had a very solid Eastern Conference Finals. For the Suns, Cameron Payne and Jae Crowder have been incredible hitting timely shots and for Jae playing stout defense.
For me, this has been one of the best NBA postseasons I have seen in a while. Yes, injuries have played a major role, but I am happy to see new teams get a chance and new stars emerge. For my prediction, I will be taking Chris Paul to lead the Suns to their first NBA Championship in six games. Finals MVP, the popular pick will be Booker, who I’m sure will thrive on this stage, but I’m going with Paul, who has been trying to reach this stage his whole career and at 36 knows this may be his last chance at it.
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