NBA Finals: (2) Suns vs (3) Bucks, Part 1 | Suns lead 2-0

[MrPerfect1]

The Suns have better starters at every position, deeper bench and a much better coach. It's gonna be easier than the Nuggets in the 2nd round. Suns in fo'.

Crowder/Bridges are better than Giannis/Middleton? No way! Ayton is very promising but is he better right now than this version of Lopez? I'm not sure.

Middleton is a SG and Giannis is not playing. Ayton is several tiers above Lopez.

Almost everywhere lists Middleton as a SF.

However, let us pretend he is a SG. There is a good argument Middleton is better than Booker.

Middleton averages more assists, more rebounds, has a slightly higher TS%, leads in almost all the big advanced stats, and is probably better defensively.

Booker has a higher scoring average and turns it over slightly less.

[Packbuckman]

Bucks in 6

[DCasey91]

Suns
Starters:
Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton

Bench:
Cam Johnson
Cam Payne
Torrey Craig
Dario Saric
(Etwuan Moore)


Bucks
Starters:
Jrue Holiday
Khris Middleton
PJ Tucker
Bobby Portis
Brook Lopez

Bench:
Pat Connaughton
Jeff Teague
Bryn Forbes

It’s pretty obvious the Suns have the better team.

[Yeggo Poleggo]

Congrats CP3 on your first ring.

[hauntedcomputer]

Each team won two games without their SooperDooperStar. Therefore, these are the two best teams.

The Era of the SooperDooperStar been exposed.

[MrSparkle]

Obviously depends on Giannis. If he comes back in normal form, I doubt PHX can win. Otherwise, the Suns have this in the bag.

[Potential_64]

Is Giannis getting injured the best thing that could happen to the Bucks? When Trae Young went down it was all "asterisk" talk but then we flipped the script, now the Bucks suddenly appear legit, might be considered underdogs if Giannis doesn't come back but they'll have a chip on their shoulder and we all know what happens when CP3 gets nervous

Watch on YouTube

[SFour]

I got Suns in 6/7......not to say the Bucks can't win it but I've been feeling like the Suns are destined to win it with how their playoff run has been going.

Injuries have been the theme of this playoffs so once again we'll have to see who can stay healthy...will Giannis be back and can CP3 remain healthy.

[Profound23]

Suns
Starters:
Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton

Bench:
Cam Johnson
Cam Payne
Torrey Craig
Dario Saric
(Etwuan Moore)


Bucks
Starters:
Jrue Holiday
Khris Middleton
PJ Tucker
Bobby Portis
Brook Lopez

Bench:
Pat Connaughton
Jeff Teague
Bryn Forbes

It’s pretty obvious the Suns have the better team.

It feels like you're missing someone for the Bucks team.

Yes...if he can't come back the Suns are clearly better. If Giannis plays its very close. If DDV were playing I would say 50/50.

[Hsker4Life]

In two games against PHX this year, Brook Lopez has:

7 pts and 5 reb
10 pts and 6 reb

He isn’t going to punish the Suns downlow.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Giannis is going to be at 60%. This series has potential to suck

[falcolombardi]

i am inpressed how you guys are so confident in knowing when or if giannis will come back and at what level will he perform

i doubt even the doctors would be so sure

[sunsbg]

Bucks were down in the game Giannis played and won both games without him. If he's rusty Bucks may have a better chance in gm1 if he's not playing.

[Yeggo Poleggo]

I expect this series to come down to free throws, so Giannis being out is a a huge help.

[MrPerfect1]

Suns
Starters:
Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton

Bench:
Cam Johnson
Cam Payne
Torrey Craig
Dario Saric
(Etwuan Moore)


Bucks
Starters:
Jrue Holiday
Khris Middleton
PJ Tucker
Bobby Portis
Brook Lopez

Bench:
Pat Connaughton
Jeff Teague
Bryn Forbes

It’s pretty obvious the Suns have the better team.

How in the world did you reach that conclusion? (I guess leaving out a 2x MVP is the answer)

[EArl]

In two games against PHX this year, Brook Lopez has:

7 pts and 5 reb
10 pts and 6 reb

He isn’t going to punish the Suns downlow.

Using the regular season as an example for a final series isn't a good indication of how the series will result in.

[beeshma]

Suns
Starters:
Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton

Bench:
Cam Johnson
Cam Payne
Torrey Craig
Dario Saric
(Etwuan Moore)


Bucks
Starters:
Jrue Holiday
Khris Middleton
PJ Tucker
Bobby Portis
Brook Lopez

Bench:
Pat Connaughton
Jeff Teague
Bryn Forbes

It’s pretty obvious the Suns have the better team.

With Gianis I would pick the Bucks. Without Gianis, seeing how the Bucks have long scoring droughts, I agree the Suns will smoke them.

With or without Gianis, I think it's obvious the Suns have a better bench.

[TinmanZBoy]

the decider of this series is Jrue Holiday

[IamBBAnalysis]

i was kinda worried until i watched that clipper series. tough scrappy defense oriented clippers without kawhi gave the suns hell. i think we an defend the suns better than clips did and i know we can outscore paul george.

not going to say we win but those who say suns in 4-5 when clippers series went 6 arent thinking straight

People are saying Suns in 4-5 because without Giannis the Bucks don't seem to have enough weapons to beat the Suns. It is unlikely the Bucks will play better offense or defense than the Clippers in this case. The Clippers without Leonard are a very, very good team. They are getting underrated here. Lots of shooters and great defense. The Bucks are more top heavy with less coaching to worry about.

[Antinomy]

Are we sure Ayton is better than Lopez?

Because if we’re being honest, if Giannis plays at anywhere near 100%, the Bucks should take this.

The Bucks have dealt with a dominant iso scorer in Durant & a great PnR guard in Young throughout their run. Devin Booker & CP3 aren’t going to scare them.

Depth won’t matter much but is the Suns bench really all that good? Portis is better than everybody on either bench.

Cam Johnson is a really good shooter but the Bucks have locked up those type of guys all playoffs. Robinson, Harris & Bogdanovic all struggled mightily against them.

I just think if both teams are fully healthy & the Bucks don’t play stupidly, it’s their series to lose.