All the Milwaukee Bucks need is one more win to take the Larry O’Brien tophy home and have a downtown championship parade for the first time since the 70s. Will we see Chris Paul come up short again? Or, will the Suns win Game 6 and set up a winner-take-all Game 7?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, July 21, at 9 AM, Manila time.
HOME TEAM: Milwaukee Bucks (3-2, 2-0 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Jrue Holiday
- SG: Khris Middleton
- SF: PJ Tucker
- PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- C: Brook Lopez
The Bucks have come all the way from looking like they’re dead in the water after falling a 0-2 hole in the Finals to just being a win away from partying like it’s the 1970s in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company outlasted Phoenix in a 123-119 road win in Game 5, thus setting themselves up with a grand opportunity to win the title at home Wednesday.
The Bucks’ turnaround in this series could perhaps be best encapsulated by Jrue Holiday’s performance in Game 5, when the two-way guard had 27 points, 13 assists, while making a number of crucial plays on defense. That came after getting his name disrespected all over social media due to his overall subpar play in the previous games.
Having regained his mojo, Holiday will be joining forces with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in trying to get the job done at Fiserv Forum, wher ethe Bucks have covered the spread in their last four games there. Milwaukee’s stingy defense is also having a huge impact, with the Suns recording a 13 TOV% in the series, higher than 12% in the first three rounds of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
ROAD TEAM: Phoenix Suns (2-3, 0-2 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Mikal Bridges
- PF: Jae Crowder
- C: Deandre Ayton
Monty Williams said it best after the Suns’ loss in Game 4. Winning the Finals isn’t easy. The Suns are finding more about that the hard way, as they have now lost three games in a row, at least two of which could have gone either way.
In Game 5, the Suns got 40 points from Devin Booker, but his costly turnover late in the contest essentially locked up the win for Milwaukee. Chris Paul had 21 points and 11 assists with just a turnover, but his defense was also targeted by the bigger Holiday and the likes of Antetokounmpo and Middleton. Those mismatches on defense are hard to cover up for the Suns whenever Paul is on the floor, so playing the passing lanes tight and quick rotations would be key in Game 6.
Offensively, Phoenix has been getting buckets. The Suns even went 13 of 19 from deep in Game 5, while Milwaukee was 14 of 28. With the way they have been making their outside shots in the Finals (40.8 3FG%), the Suns should be jacking up more 3-point attempts. The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as the underdog.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: There will be a Game 7. The Suns are due for a win. Take Phoenix (+5) and enjoy the game.
Over/Under: Even in high-pressure games and moments, the Suns and Bucks have been shooting well in the series. Take the Over (221.5).
