The stage has been set for the 2021 NBA Finals. The East will be represented by the Milwaukee Bucks, while the West will have the Phoenix Suns. Which between these two conference champions will take the early 1-0 lead in the finals? Check out our preview of this game below.
The Bucks got the job done in the Eastern Conference Finals despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo in the last two games of that series. Antetokounmpo is considered day-to-day as of the moment with a knee injury. Considering that it’s the finals, expect the Bucks’ medical staff to exhaust all available options to get the two-time NBA MVP to feel good and healthy enough to give it a go on Tuesday. If he would get sidelined again, the Bucks still have the artillery to keep up with Phoenix. Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez have all formed some sort of a Big Three since Giannis went down. Holiday had 27 points in the series-clinching win in Game 6 of the ECF against Atlanta, while Middleton exploded for 32. Lopez chipped in 13, while Bobby Portis provided 12 more. Lopez is an x-factor as his range could pry Deandre Ayton away from the paint, which could open things up in the middle for the Bucks.
The Bucks are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games when their opponent surrenders 100 points or more in their previous game.
Chris Paul has arrived in the finals, but while he’s the undisputed leader of this Phoenix team, it doesn’t mean that the Suns will simply go as far as where he takes them. After all, the Suns have won the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers without Paul. That being said, Phoenix will definitely need Paul at his best — the same form he was in during the Suns’ 130-103 Game 6 win over the Clippers on the road. In that game, Paul scattered 41 points across 35 minutes. Meanwhile, Devin Booker and Ayton will give Paul fantastic weapons to pass the ball to on the attack. Booker has been tearing it up in the playoffs, averaging 27.0 points per game. Ayton, meanwhile, is putting up 16.2 points on 70.6 percent shooting from the field. The hope for the Suns is that Giannis will not be able to play in the series opener at least, so Ayton and company could have an easier time attacking the rim, rebounding, and defending all together.
The Suns are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games playing after three or more days of rest.
