Having secured a 4-2 Western Conference win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, Monty Williams and his team have plenty of time to get their game plan in place for the opening game of the finals – which is on July 8.
Suns Team Ethic Takes Them Forward
When you look at the roster for the Phoenix Suns, there are not many standout, star players but that enables them to share the burdens and work very much as a team.
Not only have the franchise never lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy, but not one of the current squad has previously won the NBA title.
Guard Chris Paul is the most experienced player in the camp, with the 36-year-old an 11-time NBA All Star and coming towards the end of his career. Paul – who is 9/4 to be the Finals MVP – is at his fifth NBA team and his wealth of experience could be crucial in the best-of-seven series.
It’s Devin Booker that has captured most of the headlines though this season, with the guard leading the Suns’ scoring charts – averaging 25.6 points per game.
At 24-years-old, you feel there is much more yet to come from the man from Michigan, who has been an NBA All-Star in the last two years.
Having already secured their place in the Finals, Phoenix are the current 4/7 favourites to create Franchise history and claim the title.
Bucks Sweat on Giannis Fitness
Milwaukee Bucks are looking the most likely opponents for the Suns, with Mike Budenholzer’s men holding a 3-2 advantage over Atlanta Hawks going into Sunday’s Game Six.
The latest meeting will be in Georgia but should they need a Game Seven, the two teams will battle it out at the Fiserv Forum in Wisconsin.
The biggest talking point though is whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will be fit to take his place on court due to a knee injury.
The ‘Greek Freak’ hyperextended his left knee when trying to block a dunk in Game Four and despite a positive MRI scan, missed Friday’s 123-112 win for the Bucks.
Milwaukee will make a late decision on Giannis – 15/2 to be the 2021-22 Regular Season MVP – for Game Six, although the Bucks remain confident that they can finish the job, even without their main man.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, who scored 25 points in Game Five, said: “Guys get a chance to make big plays and on the biggest stage.
“I feel like us playing without him has given us some rhythm and just knowing what it’s like, making some adjustment that will be made. But at the end of the day, we’d rather play with him.”
The Bucks are 20/21 to win Game Six, with Atlanta available at 20/23 and the Hawks can be backed at 25/26 with -1.5 on the handicap.
*All odds correct at time of writing