The NBA Finals were a classic this season.
The Milwaukee Bucks were able to take down the Phoenix Suns in six games.
Iconic.
(via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/OtPwBqur0E
— ESPN (@espn) July 22, 2021
This series was one of the best we have seen within the last several years.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up some of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history, which led to him winning Finals MVP.
Despite the great series, nobody expected either of these teams to be in the Finals.
However, they withstood the rest of their respective conferences and made it to the biggest setting in basketball.
Next season is going to be different.
The full 82-game schedule is returning and a normal offseason length is being given to the players.
That can change things next year.
Teams will be able to adapt to a normal NBA season.
However, is it possible we get to see a Finals rematch?
Can the Bucks and Suns meet for a sequel?
The answer is no and here is why.
The Nets Will Be Healthy
The biggest threat to the Bucks during their run to the Finals were the Brooklyn Nets.
This Nets team was destined to make the Finals at the very least.
Possessing Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant is too unstoppable for a team to win four games against them.
However, the Bucks were able to do that, but they caught big breaks.
The Nets lost Harden for most of the series until he came back, but was a shell of himself.
Irving sprained his ankle in Game 3 and had to miss the rest of the series due to that injury.
They still took the series to seven games and almost won the series.
The Nets will be fully healthy next season and should be the favorites.
2022 NBA Championship odds, from @BetMGM:
◽️ Brooklyn Nets: +225
◽️ Los Angeles Lakers: +450
◽️ Milwaukee Bucks: +800
◽️ Golden State Warriors: +1200
◽️ Utah Jazz: +1200
◽️ Phoenix Suns: +1400 pic.twitter.com/PDXogma0i9— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 21, 2021
Granted, the Bucks do have the arguable best player in the world right now with Antetokounmpo.
However, the Nets have a big three unlike any other.
The Bucks are going to be the defending champions, but they need to watch out for the juggernaut known as the Nets.
The Suns Got Lucky
Injuries played a big role in this season’s landscape.
We saw several players get hurt at the worst possible moments.
The Suns were able to capitalize on those injuries in each series leading up to the Finals.
This is not a knock on the Suns as a team.
They deserved to make it that far.
In fact, they were two wins away from winning it all.
However, the injuries that their opponents suffered are impossible to gloss over.
Several media members are looking at those facts.
Tim Legler on the Suns (via the Lowe Post)
“[If the] Lakers don’t break down, Kawhi doesn’t go down, or even Jamal Murray is healthy, the Phoenix Suns don’t make the NBA Finals.” pic.twitter.com/2Z60vfETn7
— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) July 22, 2021
The Suns are a very good team, but they caught big breaks.
Nobody expected them to be a contender like they were.
Next season can change all of that.
The Los Angeles Lakers will get better.
Other teams, such as the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, will be back in the playoffs.
The Suns need to be able to beat these teams at full strength.
There is a chance that they can make it back.
However, the likelihood of seeing the Suns in the Finals next year should be slim.
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