Two Associated Press writers break down why each team may be hoisting the trophy soon:
Why the Suns will win
PHOENIX — This version of the Phoenix Suns will be a case study for future NBA general managers on how to build a championship contending roster in a hurry.
Roll the dice on an aging — but motivated — Hall of Fame-caliber point guard (Chris Paul) and pair him with a veteran coach who he knows and respects (Monty Williams). Add a few more savvy veterans who have been deep in the playoffs before (Jae Crowder and Torrey Craig). Then combine them with a talented young nucleus that was hungry for the wisdom they provide (Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, former Arizona Wildcat Deandre Ayton).
Voila! A playoff juggernaut is born.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Booker said after beating the Clippers to advance to the NBA Finals last week. “We’ve seen the bottom, the bottom of the bottom for multiple years, and just keeping our head down. Waiting on this moment right here. Monty coming in, building the culture, him leading us with the preparation meets opportunity.
Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, second from left, hugs Chris Paul, left, and Jae Crowder, second from right, as Devin Booker stands by as time runs out in Game 6 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Suns won the game 130-103 to take the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“That was these moments right here, and we took it and we ran with it.”
There’s no reason to believe it stops over the next two weeks in the NBA Finals. The Suns have a healthy, deep roster that has responded to every challenge it’s faced and rolled through these playoffs with a 12-4 record. Game 1 is Tuesday in Phoenix.
The 36-year-old Paul is an ageless wonder who appears to be peaking in these playoffs at the right time. He battled a shoulder injury in the first round against the Lakers and missed two games against the Clippers because of COVID-19, but he was brilliant in the Game 6 closeout win over Clippers, scoring 41 points on 16 of 24 shooting.
Booker and Ayton have been terrific in the postseason despite their relative lack of experience. The 6-foot-5 Booker has carried a big load of the scoring, averaging 27 points per game, with an old-school mid-range game that opposing teams know is coming but can’t seem to stop.
Then there’s Ayton, who has been a revelation in these playoffs. The Suns have been chided in the past for taking Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 ahead of stars like Luka Doncic and Trae Young, but Ayton is the first to be playing in the NBA Finals.
The ultra-athletic 6-foot-11 center has arguably been the most important piece of this team. He’s averaged 16.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, shot a ridiculous 70.6% from the field and provided stout interior defense against some of the league’s best big men.
He also already has game-winning bucket that will live in Suns playoff lore forever after he stuffed home an alley-oop pass from Jae Crowder with 0.7 seconds left to give the Suns a thrilling 114-113 win over the Clippers in Game 2.
“He’s embraced the work,” Williams said. “He’s embraced being a part of the scouting report. He’s embraced coaching. He understands that we’re trying to call him up, not out, and how much we care about him. He’s embraced it all.”
Now the Suns are embracing the opportunity to win the franchise’s first NBA championship.
It’s happen. The pieces fit together perfectly and there’s some mojo going on in the desert.
Prediction: Suns in six.
Why the Bucks will win
As much as the oddsmakers may argue otherwise, there’s an excellent chance the Milwaukee Bucks will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their lone NBA title by winning it all again.
Sure, the Bucks go into the NBA Finals as underdogs to the Phoenix Suns, according to Fanduel Sportsbook. The uncertain health situation of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes it only natural to feel skeptical about the Bucks’ chances.
But if Antetokounmpo does return from a hyperextended left knee and is even remotely close to full strength, he could do enough to put the Bucks over the top in this series.
Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the postseason.
Although the Suns won by a single point in each of their two regular-season games with Milwaukee, they didn’t have an answer for Antetokounmpo in either of those two contests. He scored 47 against the Suns in Phoenix and 33 against them in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton, left, drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic, right, during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Thursday, July 1, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
The Bucks also showed in the Eastern Conference finals they have enough toughness to thrive without Antetokounmpo if necessary. They beat the Atlanta Hawks in each of the two full games they played without Antetokounmpo in the lineup.
This postseason is turning into a national showcase for Khris Middleton, a two-time All-Star who has the ability to take over games. Middleton made the go-ahead basket with 40 seconds left in overtime of the Bucks’ Game 7 second-round victory at Brooklyn, scored 20 points in the fourth quarter at Atlanta in Game 3 and poured in 23 points in the third period at Atlanta in Game 6.
Jrue Holiday was a first-team selection on the NBA’s all-defensive team and has enough versatility to guard either Chris Paul or Devin Booker.
Phoenix has looked stronger for much of this postseason while winning 11 of its last 13 games, but Milwaukee could benefit from having faced more tests in these playoffs.
The Bucks avenged their 2020 playoff loss to Miami by sweeping the Heat in the first round. They trailed Brooklyn 2-0 and 3-2 before rallying to win that series. And they were tied 2-2 and missing Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference finals before fulling that series out.
Milwaukee also showed signs in its last game that it’s finally pulling out of the shooting slump that has hindered the Bucks throughout this postseason.
After going 1 of 9 on 3-point attempts in the first quarter of Game 6 in Atlanta, the Bucks went 16 of 36 the rest of the game.
Antetokounmpo’s injury also has caused the Bucks’ role players to step up.
Milwaukee relied almost entirely on its starting five against the Nets but got key contributions from reserves in the Atlanta series. Bobby Portis replaced Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and scored 22 points in Game 5. Pat Connaughton and Jeff Teague came off the bench and combined for 24 points in Game 6.
If Antetokounmpo is back for the Finals, the Bucks now should have the type of depth that can produce a championship. Even if he isn’t available, the Bucks still showed in the last two games against Atlanta that they can give Phoenix all it can handle.
Prediction: Bucks in seven
