NBA Finals Prediction

We have finally reached the NBA Finals!  In this year's matchup, Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks, we might not have the big markets that the NBA hopes to see, but we have two of the best teams in the NBA at this point remaining (and I'm not just saying that; I think the Suns were the best team in the playoffs and, at their best, the Bucks were the best in the East).  If injuries were not looming over, we might see a competitive series.  There are already injuries that a superstar is dealing with, which brings me to my reasoning behind my prediction.

This series is difficult to predict due to injuries, as several others have been prior, but one that is more difficult with this is that Bucks' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with a knee injury.  While he is expected to play Game 1, I have no idea how healthy he will be.  If his knee is still not fully healed, this will make it difficult for him to thrive since he relies so heavily on his athleticism.  If Phoenix can limit him to outside the paint, Giannis isn't a good enough shooter to make them pay and will likely hurt the team on offense at points.

If there were no injuries, I would expect this to go to seven games.  While Milwaukee is more top-heavy than Phoenix in my opinion, Phoenix is so much deeper with several options if matchups don't work, something the Bucks don't have the same luxury of without some of their players.  In general, I expect there will be one game where Phoenix loses because they can't hit their shots and another because Milwaukee goes hard in the paint, making the combo of Giannis and Brook Lopez too difficult for Deandre Ayton to stop without help.  I expect Milwaukee to lose one game because they can't hit any shots and another because they come in without a good game plan (happened in each of the last two series).  If I wasn't uncertain about the status of Antetokounmpo, I would say Phoenix in 7 because the jump shooting should translate better for the Suns players with legs that are less tired than those of the Bucks players (well-rested Devin Booker should be terrifying to play against).  That said, I think Antetokounmpo will have a game where he struggles with reduced athleticism and it will cost Milwaukee an additional game, making it a 4-2 series in favor of the Suns.


Official Prediction

Phoenix Suns beats Milwaukee Bucks 4-2

Finals MVP:  Chris Paul

Snubbed Finals MVP:  Deandre Ayton (seriously, if he can keep Lopez and Antetokounmpo in check in the paint, he deserves like 5 MVP awards)


Who do you think will win the Finals?  Let me know in the comments and enjoy the series!

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