Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. NBA Finals are here!
Deandre Ayton had a huge game in his first NBA Finals game.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ross D. Franklin/AP.)
First off, Giannis Antetokounmpo was deemed okay to play. So the Milwaukee Bucks were as strong as they were going to get.
And he looked great, too! He quickly put in 8 points early and it looked like we were going to get a battle here.
But even in the first half, it looked like the Phoenix Suns had it more together. Chris Paul started to get it going in the second quarter and was ready for more.
A Chris Paul four-point play brought the lead to double digits. I guess being in the Finals really fired up Paul because he wouldn’t stop missing. He would score 16 points in the third to help bring the lead up to 20. A Khris Middleton three at the end of the period, though, did cut the deficit to 16.
The Bucks are still a really good offensive team and they did threaten a rally as a Giannis putback brought it down to a 7-point deficit. But Devin Booker brought them home as he had a jumper to counter for each rally. Everyone looked near-perfect for Phoenix as they took Game 1 in their home crowd.
Paul finished with 32 points, all after the first quarter. Devin Booker‘s aggressiveness got him to the foul line; he finished with 27 points. Deandre Ayton gobbled up every board he could; he had 22 points and 19 boards. Even though the Bucks outshot them from behind the arc (16-11 in three-pointers), the Suns were extremely aggressive as they went to the line 26 times compared to 16 by Milwaukee. I didn’t even mention Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Payne, who all contributed mightily to this Finals win.
Khris Middleton had 29 points to lead Milwaukee. Giannis had 20 points and 17 boards. Brook Lopez had 17 points but his effectiveness was reduced as Coach Mike Budenholzer went to a “smaller line-up.” Jrue Holiday looked a bit lost even with a 10-7-9 line.
The score honestly didn’t tell the whole story as Phoenix looked dominant for a lot of the game. Milwaukee would have to look more crisp with their offense and attempt to bully the Suns with their size.
But as of now, it’s the Suns that are up, 1-0.
Bullet Passes
Nate McMillan, who was reluctant to take over the coaching duties after Lloyd PIerce got axed in Atlanta, is now the full-time head coach for the Hawks. He’s getting a four-year deal as he will try to steer the Hawks back for another shot at the Eastern Conference Finals AND the Finals. Remember that the Hawks went 27-11 in the regular season after he took over. He deserves it, man.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
July 6, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
NBA FINALS
Suns lead Bucks, 1-0.
EAST
#3 Bucks defeat #5 Hawks, 4-2.
#5 Hawks defeat #1 Sixers, 4-3.
#3 Bucks defeat #2 Nets, 4-3.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#2 Suns defeat #4 Clippers, 4-2.
#4 Clippers defeat #1 Jazz, 4-2.
#2 Suns defeat #3 Nuggets, 4-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
This guy had a hyperextended knee a week ago, right? Giannis doesn’t look hurt at all when he CHASES DOWN THIS BLOCK.
GIANNIS SUPERHUMAN BLOCK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5nbETqLGmc
— ESPN (@espn) July 7, 2021
I know it’s very reminiscent to what was probably the best defensive play in the 2010s.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.