The biggest series in the NBA Playoffs is finally here. The NBA Finals will feature the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. They’re certainly not the best teams from each conference when healthy, but they earned their spot in the Finals. So what should we expect out of this matchup?
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are in the Finals for the first time since 1974, a team that featured Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. That team ended up losing to Finals MVP John Havlicek and the Boston Celtics in Game 7. The Bucks look to win their second NBA title, their first coming in 1971. Milwaukee swept the Heat, edged the Brooklyn Nets super-team in seven games, and pulled off a series victory last night over the Atlanta Hawks to get here.
The burning question lies in the health of two-time NBA MVP and future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo. Charles Barkley said on TNT’s Inside the NBA that the best thing to happen to the Bucks was Giannis suffering an injury. I don’t disagree, because that made players like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jrue Holiday step up on both ends of the floor, especially offensively. For the Bucks to secure their second title, not only does Giannis need to be healthy, but the players around him need to step it up as they did in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Phoenix Suns
It wasn’t too long ago when the Suns were getting the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. The team that James Jones built to get to the biggest stage in the NBA is remarkable. The most important move to getting to the Finals came back in November of 2020. The Suns traded away Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, and a 2022 first-round pick in exchange for future Hall of Fame guard Chris Paul and forward Abdel Nader. The Suns won’t win this championship unless Paul is healthy. He’s a terrific passer and makes the Western Conference Champions fun to watch.
The Suns have never hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. They’ve been here before, though. With Charles Barkley, Dan Majerle, and Kevin Johnson, the Suns made the 1993 NBA Finals, eventually losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games. They also made the Finals back in 1976, with Paul Westphal leading the way before losing to the Boston Celtics in six games. Maybe their third appearance will have a different outcome.
Chris Paul isn’t the only player worth mentioning on this Suns roster. Devin Booker is considered the best player on the team, averaging over 25 points per game this season. DeAndre Ayton averages a double-double and has become a star in this year’s NBA Playoffs. Players like Cameron Payne, Jae Crowder (who had an unbelievable inbound pass to DeAndre Ayton to win the game), and Mikal Bridges will have to contribute as well in an attempt to get past the Bucks. The Suns are the obvious fan favorite because Chris Paul deserves it, playing in his 16th year in the NBA.
NBA Finals Schedule
Game 1 (in Phoenix): Tuesday, July 6, 9 PM ET, ABC
Game 2 (in Phoenix): Thursday, July 8, 9 PM ET, ABC
Game 3 (in Milwaukee): Sunday, July 11, 8 PM ET, ABC
Game 4 (in Milwaukee): Wednesday, July 14, 9 PM ET, ABC
Game 5 (in Phoenix): Saturday, July 17, 9 PM ET, ABC*
Game 6 (in Milwaukee): Tuesday, July 20, 9 PM ET, ABC*
Game 7 (in Phoenix): Thursday, July 22, 9 PM ET, ABC*
Suns-Bucks History
The Suns lead the all-time series 75-71 over the Bucks over 146 regular-season games. This is the second time ever that these two are facing off in the playoffs. Before the 1980-81 season, the Bucks were in the Western Conference. In 1978, the Bucks swept the Suns in a best of three first-round series.
Odds (via William Hill Sportsbook)
The Suns (-170) open as the favorites to win the NBA Championship, while the Bucks, who are possibly without Antetokounmpo, have +150 odds.
Prediction
It’s a difficult decision because both teams show that they deserve to win this year. If Giannis is healthy, I think the Bucks can do it, even though I’m rooting for Phoenix. However, if Giannis isn’t available, I think the Suns have enough to defeat the Bucks.
If Giannis is healthy: Bucks in 7
If Giannis isn’t healthy: Suns in 6
Thank You, Marv
Game 6 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals marked the final game of legendary play-by-play announcer Marv Albert. Albert has been a sportscaster since 1967, where he was known as “the voice of the New York Knicks” until 2004, where he was let go by James Dolan for criticizing the poor performance of the Knicks.
From 1990 to 2002, Albert was the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NBA. Excluding 1998, 1999, and 2000, Albert called every NBA Finals during his tenure with NBC. In 1999, he became the lead play-by-play announcer for TNT, where he remained until last night’s game. He made TNT his priority role when NBC’s contract with the NBA expired. After he was let go by MSG and the New York Knicks, Albert became the lead play-by-play sportscaster for YES Network’s coverage of the New Jersey Nets, a role he held until 2011. If you watched the NCAA Tournament from 2011 to 2015, you would’ve heard him call some games due to some games being broadcasted on Turner Sports (TBS, TNT, or truTV).
Albert also would announce for the New York Rangers for decades, the New York Giants for 3 seasons, Monday Night Football on Westwood One for 7 years, and NFL on CBS for 3 years. He’s been on the call for the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and even Wimbledon. He’s truly a broadcasting legend and is someone I look up to as I aim to be a sportscaster one day. On the behalf of every sports fan, thank you, Marv.
Calhoun's Corner 