The NBA Finals 2021 has been explosive and has delivered more than fans expected. Most fans thought it would either be a clean sweep or a boring series but the Bucks tied the series.
The Suns took the first two games in Phoenix and most people believed the series was wrapped until the Bucks defended home court and made sure there would be at least 6 games in this series.
With fans of both teams believing it would end in Game 6, I want to talk about some things to expect in Game 5.
Chris Paul needs to step up
Chris Paul needs to show that he really needs this championship. He had 7 turnovers in Game 4 and one in the last seconds of the game which gave the Bucks the deserved victory.
He has not really been himself in the last two games and it was all Booker who scored 40points but it was not enough to get a victory for the Suns.
Defence has to be tight
Game 4 was all about solid defence. The Bucks ran a very good defence that saw them get more rebounds, protect the ball more and even more fast break points, something the Suns struggled to do especially veteran CP3 being the major culprit.
Also, Giannis’s block in the last seconds of the game cannot be talked about enough.
It shows that in the best of 3 games, the defence would be a major factor in who eventually wins the championship.
Middleton has to stay consistent
As it is evident in this playoffs so far, Giannis will always deliver even in a tight game. He will either give you 25+ points or 40+ points, it is up to the other players like Middleton and Jrue Holiday to step up and be counted.
Middleton is an amazing player and the All-Star player needs to stay consistent if the Bucks want to close this series in 6. He had an amazing game in Game 4 where he dropped 40 points and was unstoppable as the Bucks tied the series, but he needs to keep that momentum for the next two games.
The coaches need to be versatile
We have seen that the coach’s management of the game could go a long way in deciding who wins.
The teams need to do what works for them per time. For example, Giannis is dominant in the paint but we have seen him trying to make 3s when he can make defenders get into foul trouble in the paint.
We have seen Booker kill the Bucks with his midrange shots all game long and the defence had no answer for that. The coaches need to see all these and use them.
In a way I think the Bucks will take this series if they keep doing what works for them and not change in the middle of the game. The Suns seem like they need a lot to get going while the Bucks already have like 3 players already in the zone.
It will take a lot to win a game on the road but it is not something both teams have not done in this playoffs.
Who do you think will win this championship?
