Giannis Antetokounmpo put the Milwaukee Bucks on his back to close out the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, 105-98. With a remarkable 50 point performance, the two-time MVP added NBA Champion and Finals MVP to his already impressive resume.
Khris Middleton hit two clutch shots in the final minutes to deliver the knockout blow to Phoenix. Milwaukee cult phenom Bobby Portis contributed 16 points off the bench, and Jrue Holiday’s clutch defense frustrated Devin Booker all night. Though it was the high-energy domination of Giannis that stole the show.
The Greek Freak delivered one of the most iconic performances in the illustrious history of the NBA Finals. He became just the seventh player ever to drop 50 points in the Finals, doing so on 16 for 25 shooting. His free throw shooting was widely criticized throughout the playoffs, both in terms of percentages and time taken. He shot under 60% from the line in the first five games, but made 17 of 19 in game six. He lived up to his Defensive Player of the Year title as well, grabbing 14 rebounds and 5 blocks.
Vince Staples – Self-Titled, Album Review
We heard the chants way back before game one. “Bucks in Six! Bucks in Six!” Despite dropping the first two games, their confidence never wavered. Milwaukee’s gritty defense wore down the Suns over the series, exhibiting an increasingly better understanding of the Suns’ offense with each game.
For the Suns, Devin Booker shot an abysmal 8 for 22, including 0 for 7 from behind the arc in game six. Chris Paul put up 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Suns’ season alive. At 36 years old, this was likely Paul’s best opportunity to cement his legacy with an NBA championship. His impending free-agency puts his future in Phoenix in question. However, if he opts to leave Phoenix, his influence on young stars Booker and Deandre Ayton will have ripple effects for years to come.
This definitely isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of the Phoenix Suns. But are the Milwaukee Bucks built to repeat as champs? Let us know your early predictions for the 2022 NBA Finals in the comments section below! Lastly, if you can’t wait until next season for more hoops, check out USA Basketball’s roster for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
