PREGAME THOUGHTS

Feeling a lot less confident in my PHX pick to win it all. Giannis has been the only consistently great player every game.

Even when he has struggled, he’s still performed great.

Saturday - July 17, 2021

Booker and CP3 on the other hand have had some really big struggles.

I was misled by this headline

I love Jrue and Giannis and am not really a big CP3 fan, but I still find myself cheering for PHX. Don’t know if it’s because of confirmation bias with my original pick or if there is something else at play.

Maybe it’s the Chicago in me that doesn’t want good things for Wisconsin.

“MIL has 3 TOs in less than 3mins”

Looks like PHX might be getting another Crowder game as he starts off with two made threes and a fast break dunk.

If Book can join him it should be smooth sailing for my pick (especially with the MIL TOs).

No early tinkle break for Giannis tonight. Not sure if that’s a good sign or not. They are 2-0 when he sits early.

Portis holding up again on the switch, I am becoming a fan of this dude

Another trash game poster...

Booker looks like he might have it going from three tonight and if that’s the case with another Crowder game... good luck Giannis.

Hard to remember that he’s carrying an injury, his motor is just non-stop

WARNING: HALF DIVIDER

CP looking sloppy... weird fumble of the ball to DA as he crossed half court.

As a Bulls fan I have very mixed feelings about Portis.

He very well could still be hobbled, but when he was a “last minute addition” for game 1, I said I thought he was good to go and they just wanted to mess with PHXs prep.

Stupid for Giannis to chase Booker on that even despite the foul being called earlier.

He hustles, but he’s prone to bone-headed antics (and I’m not even talking about breaking teammates faces).

4 fouls on Tucker already @ 7:00

At this point, I look at him like half the league after playing nearly 100 games. And I could very well be wrong, but besides his endurance he shows no signs.

Both just trading buckets at this point.

This PHX fans counting hundred dollar bills for the Giannis FT count has pushed me to cheer for MIL now.

PHX executing the shoot 75%+ strategy flawlessly

The average difficulty on a Booker shot is unreal, but you could say the same for Middleton

Middleton’s little spin to midrange was beautiful.

I love former 76er Mikal Bridges man, what a perfect role player

Another good great block for Giannis (miscalled a goal tend...)

Currently 78-73 Bucks

Portis again! This is not good for PHX

Bridges is the best. My favorite Sun by far. And I think he can be really really really good, much better than a role player. When Crowder and CP3 are gone, they are going to be a “Big 3” if they can keep them together.

And then taking it a little further into the post on CP 🥳

Jrue with two early fouls could cost MIL huge.

Booker is a strong dude, but Jrue just standing him up on that play, just shutting down who ever he’s on right now

Crowder playing the 5 for a moment, have they been going to that look? That’s so small

25 and 10 already for Jrue, he’s hauling the load on this one

lmao the full flop at the end of the shot clock by Middleton, gotta sell the contact

Is MIL just going to start running away with this??

Starters are all -16, Jrue (and Brook who left at the same time) at -5.

CP3 grinding on D at least

Since they lost Saric, that’s all they got. I think they played Kaminsky like 5mins that game, but since then they don’t have anyone bigger than Crowder in the rotation when DA sits.

WARNING: HALF DIVIDER

I love the way Cam Payne moves from side to side when handling the ball, so aesthetically pleasing

Looking a lot like Game 4, albeit with much better offence from both sides.

Kaminsky is so bad, I think the right choice of a bunch of bad ones

At like a 29pt swing between the end of Q1 and 3:00 left in Q3.

Craig hitting that tightly closed three late in the shot clock is brutal, especially already down big as the quarter nears the end.

Sad for 76er legend Dario, could have been a big part of this series

Bucks looking comfortable on both ends, Giannis doing just enough

Yeah, even with Saric healthy, I think PHX is still short a back-up center.

Missed the end there.

Giannis and Jrue have both found ways to positively impact the game when not scoring. PHX doesn’t really have that consistently through the series.

Giannis knocking down the fade away is scarryyyyyy

I’m at a loss here for what PHX should do, they’re scoring at a high clip and forcing tough shots.

Great shotmaking by the Bucks, we’re back even

Brutal TO. Both Portis and Jrue go for the rebound and just fingertip it out of bounds.

Jrue needs to keep being aggressive attacking while Giannis is out and be ready to find Khris.

Can start with CP3 not being careless with the ball on the other end. That wild pass to Cam in the corner was just careless.

Make PJ Tucker make a shot though. They were in a scramble and closed out hard on Tuck which allowed him to drive. I know he has the ability to knock down the 3 but make him prove it given how hot everyone else is.

Jrue and CP3 both looking better today, always look better when the shots go in I suppose

Follows it up with a 3!

Jrue definitely missed a lot last game, but I thought he was still superb.

Even if Portis weren’t holding his own on the switch, his energy has been huge. Bucks just look like they want it more.

Holiday wants to show he can go for 40 too!

I don’t think PHX has the personnel to beat MIL if Jrue is this hot. Just means open shots for Khris and Giannis can clean up.

Getting into the paint at will, whipping passes with either hand, hitting long 3s😍

They look more composed to me, very willing to stick to the game plan and execute.

Gonna make the wild prediction that if Jrue can keep pace with Booker the Bucks will win haha

Big Boy Lineup? Will be interesting

WARNING: HALF DIVIDER

They got here with CP3 being the clear 2nd best player for PHX and he has not been that this series, even though he has 11 and 10 tonight.

PHX in comparison looking a bit lost on how to attack the Bucks, whether to mismatch hunt or run their sets

Yeah he seems to have CP3s number on the other end too and if CP can’t be the floor general and setup his shooters and DA with Jrue going off like this, there’s not much else PHX can do.

Portis puts the Bucks up 1 with a 3.

Great defensive possession leading to the Booker fast break. Need this for another six minutes.

I don’t think Bud even realized.

Stepback two, goes in for Middleton, tough tough shot

Honestly think Ayton is doing totally fine against Giannis, he’s just unstoppable at times

MIL dominated the minutes with Giannis and Booker both on the bench.

CP3 coming up big this quarter, love to see it

Stepback three this time, can’t cut down a lead with Middleton doing this

Even @ 55 - 3:00

I love when it’s Cam time, either Cam, but it has not been that effective

Yeah he’s had a few huge threes.

Jrue’s been super assertive and decisive in his play, the opposite of Booker and CP3 (despite Booker’s hot shooting, he’s still making lazy passes and not forcing the issue when he’s rolling)

3pt game! @ 1:20

Smart foul by CP3

S U P E R S T A R

HALFTIME THOUGHTS

1pt game after another CP3 bucket!

Both teams shooting over 50% from three, is that good?

WHO ELSE WITH THE STEAL

Championship shit

The little skip that a lot of passers do after they throw an alley-oop pass remains one of fav basketball things

OH MY! That oop to finish it..

WARNING: HALF DIVIDER

Not getting that rebound on the FT is probably the nail in the coffin

123-119 Bucks Win!

POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Giannis is obviosouly the MVP of the team, but if I had a vote, I might give it to Jrue.

He’s defineitly struggled offensively on more games than not, but the pressure he has put on PHX backcourt is the reason they win. Full stop.

Add on the scoring he did tonight and his impact is just undeniable.

First road win of the Finals. On PHX to do the same next if they want to stay alive.

Defense, passing, and now scoring.

Anyone else and those guys run wild.

Gonna be tough to win in MIL though, especially given it seems like MIL has only gotten better each game, basically adding a piece to their stack of skills while PHX seems to swap in different parts.

Booker is being asked to do too much right now, they need more creation from someone. Unsustainable to ask him to carry the load again next game.

Outrageous shotmaking by both sides tonight, was too close down the stretch for me to count PHX out

The third guy is theoretically Ayton, who has not been able to create any advantages in the post. Who the hell comes after that? Cam Payne?