Bucks’ playoff toughness ought to assist them win championship

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As a lot because the oddsmakers might argue in any other case, there’s a great opportunity the Milwaukee Bucks will rejoice the fiftieth anniversary of their lone NBA title by successful all of it once more.

Positive, the Bucks go into the NBA Finals as underdogs to the Phoenix Suns, in response to Fanduel Sportsbook. The unsure well being scenario of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes it solely pure to really feel skeptical in regards to the Bucks’ possibilities.

But when Antetokounmpo does return from a hyperextended left knee and is even remotely near full power, he may do sufficient to place the Bucks excessive on this sequence.

Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.2 factors, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists within the postseason.

Though the Suns received by a single level in every of their two regular-season video games with Milwaukee, they did not have a solution for Antetokounmpo in both of these two contests. He scored 47 in opposition to the Suns in Phoenix and 33 in opposition to them in Milwaukee.

The Bucks additionally confirmed within the Japanese Convention finals they’ve sufficient toughness to thrive with out Antetokounmpo if obligatory. They beat the Atlanta Hawks in every of the 2 full video games they performed with out Antetokounmpo within the lineup.

This postseason is popping right into a nationwide showcase for Khris Middleton, a two-time All-Star who has the flexibility to take over video games. Middleton made the go-ahead basket with 40 seconds left in extra time of the Bucks’ Recreation 7 second-round victory at Brooklyn, scored 20 factors within the fourth quarter at Atlanta in Recreation 3 and poured in 23 factors within the third interval at Atlanta in Recreation 6.

Jrue Vacation was a first-team choice on the NBA’s all-defensive workforce and has sufficient versatility to protect both Chris Paul or Devin Booker.

Phoenix has seemed stronger for a lot of this postseason whereas successful 11 of its final 13 video games, however Milwaukee may gain advantage from having confronted extra assessments in these playoffs.

The Bucks avenged their 2020 playoff loss to Miami by sweeping the Warmth within the first spherical. They trailed Brooklyn 2-0 and 3-2 earlier than rallying to win that sequence. They usually had been tied 2-2 and lacking Antetokounmpo within the Japanese Convention finals earlier than fulling that sequence out.

Milwaukee additionally confirmed indicators in its final sport that it is lastly pulling out of the capturing hunch that has hindered the Bucks all through this postseason.

The Bucks have made simply 31.1% of their 3-point makes an attempt within the playoffs after capturing 38.9% from past the arc throughout the common season. However after going 1 of 9 on 3-point makes an attempt within the first quarter of Recreation 6 in Atlanta, the Bucks went 16 of 36 the remainder of the sport. In the event that they’ve solved their 3-point points, they will be way more formidable within the Finals.

Antetokounmpo’s damage additionally has triggered the Bucks’ function gamers to step up.

Milwaukee relied virtually totally on its beginning 5 in opposition to the Nets however acquired key contributions from reserves within the Atlanta sequence. Bobby Portis changed Antetokounmpo within the beginning lineup and scored 22 factors in Recreation 5. Pat Connaughton and Jeff Teague got here off the bench and mixed for twenty-four factors in Recreation 6.

If Antetokounmpo is again for the Finals, the Bucks now ought to have the kind of depth that may produce a championship. Even when he is not accessible, the Bucks nonetheless confirmed within the final two video games in opposition to Atlanta that they can provide Phoenix all it will probably deal with.

Prediction: Bucks in seven

Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities



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