The stage is set and the battle for the rights to be called “world champions” is up for grabs! The Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals, a matchup that we definitely did not see coming a few years back. Both Milwaukee and Phoenix have built themselves into some of the strongest teams in the league over the years, but only one of them can come out victorious.
The Bucks’ journey to the NBA Finals started back in 2019 when they made a big move to trade for Jrue Holiday. Milwaukee gave up Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps for the former All-Star guard, which seemed like a ton of value at the time, but Holiday has proven to be the missing piece in the Bucks’ championship puzzle.
All year long, Milwaukee was a dominant team in the Eastern Conference and they came within three games of being the 1-seed in the East. With Gianns Antetokounmpo putting up almost identical numbers this season to that of last season when he won his second consecutive MVP award, the Bucks entered the postseason as a very dangerous team.
They swept the Miami Heat in the first-round, took down the championship favorites in the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals and got past the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the conference finals.
READ MORE: Why Milwaukee Bucks can win the 2021 NBA Finals
Unlike the Bucks, Phoenix was not a championship favorite entering the season and they were projected to possibly make the play-in tournament. Ever since they went 8-0 in the NBA Bubble last year, there was just something about the Phoenix Suns that stook out over the rest of the teams in the league and bringing in Chris Paul unleashed their full potential.
The Suns finished the regular season 51-21, their best record since the 2009-10 season and they made the postseason as the 2-seed in the Western Conference for the first-time since that same season. Playing with heart and playing with a chip on their shoulders all season long has driven this Suns team and they really did not face much of a challenge in the postseason.
They drew the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round and were able to handle them in six games, then they swept the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals and they most recently beat Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers in the conference finals.
READ MORE: Why the Phoenix Suns will win the 2021 NBA Finals
A lot has been said about Phoenix having an “easy path” to the NBA Finals since Anthony Davis got hurt for the Lakers, Jamal Murray was hurt for the Nuggets and Kawhi Leonard was hurt for the Clippers, but the Suns were dealing with some injuries of their own as well.
Chris Paul suffered a shoulder injury which visibility bothered him throughout their first-round series, then he had to deal with being in health and safety protocols. Not only was Paul dealing with injuries leading up to the NBA Finals, but Devin Booker suffered a broken nose in the Western Conference Finals against the Clippers.
All season long, this Suns team has overcome adversity, which is why they are in the NBA Finals. Both the Bucks and Suns are two very deserving teams to be where they are and now, a new champion will be crowned in the NBA. Will the Bucks win their first championship since 1971 or will the Suns win their first championship ever?
Time will tell who will be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy into the air and until then, let’s take a look at this series from a whole and evaluate both teams to see who has the edge in the 2021 NBA Finals.
