IN NBA history, no team has ever recovered from a 0-3 deficit and wins a seven-game series. The Milwaukee Bucks, with their horns gotten entangled in the Valley of the Suns, had gotten back into the deer park and corrected themselves.
Hosting their first Finals game after 47 years, they simply wiped the daylights out of the Suns with a masterful Game 3 showing at the Fiserv Arena. And yes, won two more games for a commanding 3-1 series lead. Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis finally came to play with head of the herd Giannis Antetokounmpo, as usual, being the most impressive.
For two straight games (Games two and three), Giannis scored 41 points, had 13 rebounds, and six assists. In a Game 2 losing effort, he scored 42 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. His performance landed him in a very exclusive group of players who recorded back-to-back 40-plus points in an NBA Finals. He joins LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, and Rick Barry. Going up a notch, Giannis and Shaq are the only players in the history of the Finals who had back-to-back 40 plus points and 10 plus rebounds.
Ironically, it was during the 1993 Finals between Chicago and Phoenix when Jordan scored four consecutive 40 plus point games and Giannis, now also facing the Suns, had done the feat.
If we are to describe Giannis’ Finals performance, sensational would be an understatement. By far, he is the best player, in my opinion of this championship series and will be my choice for the Finals MVP. Milwaukee in all likelihood could end the series, but Phoenix’s just wouldn’t allow the sun to set just yet. To do that, the Suns must put more emphasis on defense./PN
