The 2021 NBA Finals is candy for true basketball fans, like Ethan Hawke.

2021 NBA Playoffs: NBA Finals

“Bring me your wet, tired, broken, huddled *players,” was the overall NBA motto this season/playoffs. The amount of injuries to star players was staggering and tough to watch. LeBron, AD, Kawhi, Dame, Kyrie, Harden, KD, Giannis, Trae… The list goes on and on but you get the point. Still, after all the questions about how this season would look — Phoenix and Milwaukee emerged from the bloodied masses to give us one of the most intriguing NBA Finals in years. The 2021 NBA Champion will either be a once in a generation Freak, or a wizened God who has battled the Basketball Fates like a hero in a Greek tragedy.

NBA Finals: (2) Phoenix vs. (3) Milwaukee.

• The elephant in the room is Giannis Antetokounmpo. How healthy is he and when will he return? If he’s 80% normal Giannis, the Bucks should keep this somewhat competitive. Also, playing without him in the ECF seemed to unleash Jrue/Khris and could be an unexpected silver lining heading into the Finals. This Bucks team is good even without their Greek Freak but he’s what puts them over the top.
• The Suns are a complete team. Led by their crafty veteran Chris Paul, Phoenix has charged through the Western Conference Playoffs and seems destined for the Larry O’Brien trophy. The Suns are so good because they have multiple players who can just “go get a bucket.” It’s not that simple, but it sort of is. In the playoffs/finals, teams need guys who can just go down and score and the Suns have that. They also have one of the most gifted scorers in the game in Devin Booker. When he’s in the zone, it’s hard to stop and is beautiful to watch. That type of lethal scoring also gives the Suns an advantage because he can individually rattle off 8–10 straight points like nothing.
• Role Players. That’s going to be key (duh). With Giannis likely to miss some games/time, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are going to have to carry most of the scoring load. The Bucks backed up the Brinks truck for both of them and they’ve delivered through out the playoffs, but they’ve also had games where they seem to disappear. That can’t happen in the Finals or the series will be over before it started. Brook Lopez will have to continue his Shaq like dominance in the paint if the Bucks hope to stay even in the race. Jae Crowder turned into Ray Allen in the WCF and he could be a difference maker if he’s hitting shots/playing defense like he can. Also, Mikal Bridges has been sensational and will likely be stuck on Khris through out the series.
• All in all, the scales seem to tilt towards the Suns for all of the reasons above. Phoenix has experience, scoring, depth and confidence. However, the Bucks aren’t scrubs and will likely keep this competitive until the end.
• Suns in 7 (maybe 6).