Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks title?
The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks play Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Before the game tips off, take a look at these predictions for the series between the Suns, the No. 2 seed from the Western Conference, and the Bucks the No. 3 seed from the Eastern Conference.
Who will win the series?
Writers from The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Sports make their predictions.
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Greg Moore, columnist, The Arizona Republic: Suns in 4
Milwaukee is a problem. the Bucks are a physical team that can play three 7-footers at once assuming Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy. They’re even big on the wings and in the backcourt with guys like PJ Tucker and Jrue Holiday. Of course, the Suns know what to do with a big team. Just ask the Lakers. Deandre Ayton should be faster than Brook Lopez. Jae Crowder and Cam Johnson should be able to pull Bobby Portis away from the hoop with their 3-point range. And if Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, can play, he’s going to get that injured knee tested in pick-and-roll situations. The key for the Suns will be defensive rebounding and keeping the Bucks from getting too many second-chance points. The most fun matchup to watch will be Devin Booker vs. PJ Tucker. Their practice battles when Tucker was in Phoenix were legendary. He’s a big part of the reason that Booker is such a scoring machine. Suns in four. (What did you think I was gonna say?!)
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Kent Somers, columnist, The Arizona Republic: Suns in 6
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo play? That won’t make a difference in which team will win this series, just how long the festivities might last. The Suns are the better team. They have more depth and more balance. And that’s true even if the Bucks have Antetokounmpo. If Antetokounmpo misses the entire series, it won’t last longer than six games. It will probably be over than less that. If he does, it goes six or seven, but the Suns still win their first NBA title. But that comes with an asterisk: *if everyone stays healthy. And we’ve seen throughout the playoffs, that’s far from a given. A stinger, muscle pull, broken nose, positive COVID test or something else impossible to foresee could change everything. Otherwise, let’s say Suns in six.
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Duane Rankin, Suns writer, The Arizona Republic: Suns in 7
The Suns are more complete when it comes to overall talent, depth, coaching and chemistry, but the Bucks are more seasoned overall in terms of playoff experience. However, Phoenix has gone through the defending NBA champions (Los Angeles Lakers), the NBA MVP (Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic) and the Clippers, who won the regular-season series over them. Also the Suns, who had the NBA’s best road record, closed out all three rounds away from home. Combine that with Paul being just four wins way from finally winning an NBA title in his 16th season, Antetokounmpo likely missing the start of the series and not being 100% if and when he returns, and Phoenix having homecourt advantage with a fan base so hungry for a championship, the Suns won’t be denied.
Click here to read Rankin’s complete Suns vs. Bucks scouting report for the NBA Finals.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports: Suns in 6
Both teams were impressive on their way to the Finals, given who they had to beat and how they had to do it. Milwaukee’s success depends on the availability of All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and even then, it will be tough for the Bucks to beat the Suns who have been the best team in the playoffs. There are plenty of fun matchups to watch (Chris Paul vs. Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker vs. Khris Middleton and who guards Antetokounmpo), plus the coaching the decisions that will have an impact on this series. I’m rooting for compelling and entertaining.
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Mark Medina, USA TODAY Sports: Suns in 7
Though it appears uncertain when or if Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will return from injury, the Suns have a chance to steal at least a game or two while he’s out. But the Suns’ fortunes aren’t just about being the last team standing — they have earned this trip to the Finals because of a quality head coaching (Monty Williams), quality point-guard play (Chris Paul) and rising youth (Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton).
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Matt Eppers, USA TODAY Sports: Suns in 6
Chris Paul has become the sentimental favorite, but he’s also been arguably the best player in the playoffs. He and Devin Booker complement each other so well as the dual engines that make the Suns go, and everyone else seems completely in synch around them. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a problem for the Phoenix bigs if he’s healthy — or close to it — but his knee injury is a huge question mark for the Bucks. They played well without him to close out the East finals, but I trust the Suns’ scoring depth to be more reliable beyond the stars.
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Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Suns in 7
The status of Giannis Antetokounmpo remains unclear at the start of the NBA Finals, and that also muddies up the Bucks’ championship chances. The Bucks will play good defense and lean on Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, but with a rested, healthier and similarly-defensive minded Suns team waiting with home court advantage that may not be enough.
Click here for more Suns vs. Bucks NBA Finals predictions.
