NBA Finals (Preview) - MKE Bucks vs. PHX Suns
Author: Paul McEnaney-Rodriguez
After what felt like one of the most fun NBA playoffs in years, we are finally here with the Milwaukee Bucks (my true hometown team) versus the Phoenix Suns facing off July 6th.
Now I’m a huge NBA fan; it’s the sport I passionately follow year-round. Growing up in Wisconsin, the Bucks were my team forever. Give me old-school Michael Redd, Glenn Robinson, and Desmond Mason. Give me young Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings. To this day though, the Bucks have barely scratched the surface going all the way in the NBA playoffs because of other teams just demolishing in the conference (shoutout to the CLE Cavs for a number of years).
Then I moved to Minnesota for school and started to become a MN Timberwolves fan because of being so close to the stadium and it being way easier to follow. I became a fan during Kevin Love’s peak era in Minnesota. His making the All-Star team and basically averaging 60 rebounds a game with his insane outlet passes was a joy to watch. Also, he’s just handsome, ok? As almost everyone knows though, the Timberwolves have barely made it to the playoffs. They had with Jimmy Butler a few years ago that ended in chaos and it’s been bottom of the West since. So with both of my teams, I haven’t felt that playoff journey and energy until now.
That brings us to this year’s Bucks vs. Suns matchup; two incredibly talented teams with a few major stars.
Despite the negativity around “small market” teams given to Milwaukee and Phoenix by a certain TV personality, this is the most excited I’ve been for an NBA Finals matchup in a long time. I barely remember last year because of the bubble but also the boring storyline of the LA Lakers. I’m not a Lebron hater, I respect him a ton, but creating a super team and just moving around is such a bore to me. I felt the exact same way as the Brooklyn Nets creating their super team with Kevin Durant, Kyrie, Harden, and sort of Blake Griffin. It’s not fun and it feels so inauthentic to the game. When the Bucks finally put down the Nets this year, there was a huge sigh of relief as that team of stars didn’t work out.
Give me the players who stick with their city and team through it all. Give me Giannis. Give me Devin Booker. Give me that storyline. I want players to be with their teams and grow the entire way. It shows loyalty and honestly is more interesting to follow.
This Finals series should be intense and I honestly think it’ll get to game 6/7. I think it’s Phoenix’s championship to lose though:
Unfortunately, Giannis got hurt in the game against the Hawks which reports are saying he’s still healing from. It’s a bummer because he’s such a pivotal player for the team, but Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jrue Holiday stepped up in the two games he was out. I think it’ll either be those three continuing to succeed or Giannis comes back in, takes a bit to get back into the flow, and then plays it out. With that injury (and him coming back late), I can’t imagine the team chemistry on the floor will be the best at the jump. I’m not even going to get into the details of Coach Bud who’s been on the hot seat with some horrific coaching decisions this entire playoff push.
The Suns are a more talented and disciplined team. Under the veteran, Chris Paul, this team is solid with young talent that honestly stepped up and got them where they’re at today. Ayton is incredible for his age and he’s going to be an issue for the league for quite some time. I’m excited to see a more traditional battle down low with Ayton and MKE’s Lopez. Booker is an outlier since he’s been a stud in the league for a couple of years now, but it’s not like the Cavs team from a few years ago with very clear All-Stars or even the Kevin Durant Warriors. The Suns are a solid team and their chemistry is on. They should win this.
For me though as a fan of MIlwaukee, #BucksInSix.