This season’s NBA Finals has been one of the best we have seen in recent memory.
The last two games have been phenomenal, as they have been nail-biters.
The Milwaukee Bucks were able to steal Game 5 on the road and take the series lead 3-2.
Game 6 can be the end of the series, which would be a devastating end for the Phoenix Suns.
This series started with a dominant first two games from the Suns and they were up 2-0.
However, the Bucks have now won three in a row.
Most people are thinking that the series is mostly likely going to be over in Milwaukee.
This series has been competitive and we should expect it to go to seven games.
3. Can the Bucks Big Three Repeat Their Performance?
The Bucks big three consists of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.
In Game 5, they collectively played an amazing game to take the series lead.
Khris Middleton
29 PTS – 7 REB – 5 ASTJrue Holiday
27 PTS – 4 REB – 13 ASTGiannis Antetokounmpo
32 PTS – 9 REB – 6 ASTBucks up 3-2 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FTfGJqK7Ia
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) July 18, 2021
Antetokounmpo led them in scoring with 32 points.
Middleton followed up his great Game 4 performance with 29 points.
Holiday scored 27 points to go along with a game-high of 13 assists.
They played great, but can they all do that again?
Antetokounmpo is a superstar and has been dominant throughout the series.
He will be great for the remainder of the series.
However, Middleton can be up and down.
Games 2 and 3 were bad performances by him, but were then followed with two great ones.
That has been the story of his NBA playoffs this year; inconsistency.
Then there is Holiday.
The previous game saw him shoot 4-20.
Holiday has had issues with his shot throughout the playoffs.
We should not expect him to be lights out once again.
2. Devin Booker Needs Just Some Help
Devin Booker has been excellent in these last two games for the Suns.
Games 4 and 5 have seen the young star put up 40 points in each game.
However, both of those performances have been met with losses for the Suns.
Devin Booker is the first player in NBA history to have 40+ points in back-to-back Finals games and lose both games. pic.twitter.com/cCjrElbZqB
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 18, 2021
Booker has done everything in his power to bring his team close to victory.
He needs the help from others.
That includes Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
Even their bench players, such as Cameron Payne and Cameron Johnson, need to step up.
The Suns need to help their best player before it is too late.
1. The Suns Are Still Shooting
A team that loses does not tend to shoot at a historical level.
However, the Suns are doing that.
Game 5 was a great shooting performance by the Suns, but somehow it was not enough.
The Suns are the first team in NBA history to lose a playoff game shooting 55% from the field and 60% from three. pic.twitter.com/X8AOhcPbuR
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 18, 2021
The first quarter was outstanding for the Suns.
They finished that quarter with a 37-21 lead and only missed five total shots.
It looked like a blowout was ready to occur.
Somehow the Suns shooting dipped just a little bit, but the Bucks were able to take it to a different level each time.
In order to push this to a Game 7, the Suns need to retain this level of shooting.
Also, they need to play defense at the level that we have seen in previous NBA playoff rounds.
The likelihood of a Game 7 should be high.
NEXT: 3 Ways Suns Must Adjust Heading Into Game 6 Against Bucks