2022 NBA Championship Odds: Nets, Lakers, Bucks Open as Favorites to Win Title
Jul 21, 2021
Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant (7) during the first half of Game 7 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will enter the 2021-22 season as the prohibitive favorites to win the NBA title at +195 odds (bet $100 to win $195), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The 2019-20 champion Los Angeles Lakers have the next best odds at +600, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and this year's champion Milwaukee Bucks (+850).
The rest of the odds are as follows:
Who are you betting on to win it all next season? 🏆
It's no surprise that the Nets are the clear favorites. Durant, Harden and Irving played just eight regular-season games together this past year, as injuries ravaged the squad. They still earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and led the Bucks 2-0 in the conference semifinals without Harden.
But Irving sprained his ankle in Game 4, which ultimately ended his season, while a hobbled Harden returned in Game 5 but was clearly less than 100 percent. Despite being short-handed the Nets took the Bucks to seven games, including overtime in an epic Game 7, with Durant's heroics—he scored 48 points and forced overtime with a game-tying, turnaround jumper that was about an inch away from being a game-winning three—nearly ending Milwaukee's season.
If the Bucks barely squeaked by against a Nets team playing the entire series without their Big Three fully healthy, how much of a chance would they stand against Brooklyn at full strength?
Of course, the Bucks aren't going to give their title back. But it's hard to ignore that injuries played a huge factor in this postseason. The Lakers can attest, as Anthony Davis' injury in the team's first-round loss to the Suns was too much to overcome. The Denver Nuggets were without Jamal Murray. The Boston Celtics didn't have Jaylen Brown. The Los Angeles Clippers didn't have Kawhi Leonard in the Western Conference Finals.
Teams getting star players healthy again will impact the odds. So too will offseason trades and free agency. Will Damian Lillard switch teams? Might Chris Paul and Leonard opt out of player options to become free agents? Could they switch allegiances as well?
A lot of questions will be answered. A lot of betting lines will be altered. But as things stand now, it's hard to argue against the Nets being the prohibitive favorites.
For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.
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Giannis Orders 50 Nuggets at Chick-fil-A in IG Live Video After Bucks Win NBA Finals
Jul 21, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks holds the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award and Larry O'Brien Trophy as he talks to the media after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals on July 20, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images).
Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated the Milwaukee Bucks' NBA championship with a trip to Chick-fil-A on Wednesday.
After scoring 50 points in Milwaukee's 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday to secure the NBA Finals MVP award and the Bucks' first championship in 50 years, Giannis treated himself.
On Instagram Live, he discussed his intention to order 50 chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A:
It is unclear if he planned to order the traditional nuggets or grilled nuggets, but he did discuss dipping sauce options, including Chick-fil-A sauce and barbecue.
Antetokounmpo likely worked up an appetite in putting the Bucks on his back Tuesday in one of the greatest championship-clinching performances in NBA history.
The NBA MVP in both 2019 and 2020 not only netted 50 points in Game 6 but also piled up 14 rebounds and five blocks.
Antetokounmpo had three games with 40 or more points in the series and finished with averages of 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals.
Making his showing even more impressive was the fact that he missed the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks with a hyperextended knee. He also helped Milwaukee overcome a 2-0 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
Triple H Sends WWE Championship Belt to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks After Finals Win
Jul 21, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks holds the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award and Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals during Game Six of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 20, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images).
WWE legend and executive Triple H announced Wednesday that he is sending a customized WWE Championship belt to the Milwaukee Bucks to celebrate their NBA championship.
Triple H specifically congratulated NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as upcoming United States Olympians Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday on the triumph.
The Bucks outlasted the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday to win their first championship in 50 years.
Milwaukee overcame a 2-0 series deficit in the Finals, and Giannis managed to play in all six Finals games despite missing the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals with a hyperextended knee.
Giannis, who was already a two-time NBA MVP, dominated in Game 6 to the tune of 50 points and 14 rebounds. That upped his Finals averages to 35.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.
Making the victory even more special was the fact that it occurred at a sold-out Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with tens of thousands of Bucks fans also watching on screens outside the arena.
This marks the second time in the past two weeks that WWE has honored a championship-winning team, as Triple H sent a custom title to the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Bucks Parade 2021: Route, Scheduled Date and More Known Details
Jul 21, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) holds the finals MVP trophy after the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Milwaukee Bucks announced early Wednesday morning that they will celebrate their 2020-21 NBA championship with a parade through downtown Milwaukee on Thursday.
Bucks president Peter Feigin emphatically declared the parade will occur Thursday following Milwaukee's 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday:
With that victory, the Bucks won their first championship in 50 years, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added an NBA Finals MVP award to his two NBA MVP trophies thanks in large part to a 50-point performance in Game 6.
According to Tom Daykin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the expectation is that the parade will go down Wisconsin Avenue, although no official announcement has been made.
The Bucks have yet to announce a start time for the parade, although holding it Thursday makes sense, as it will allow United States Olympians Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to take part before catching a flight to Tokyo.
Thursday's parade will be made even more special by the fact that the Bucks haven't won a championship since 1971 and didn't have a parade following that triumph 50 years ago, per Daykin.
Giannis, Middleton, Holiday, head coach Mike Budenholzer and fan favorite Bobby Portis figure to be central figures in the celebration when Bucks fans enjoy their first championship parade.
Giannis on Supermax Contract with Bucks: 'I Couldn't Leave ... This Is the Hard Way'
Jul 21, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo smiles while holding the NBA Championship trophy, left, and Most Valuable Player trophy after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
After leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship since 1971 and being named NBA Finals MVP on Tuesday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo justified the path he chose this offseason.
According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Giannis said the following when asked about signing a supermax contract extension with the Bucks last year: "I couldn't leave. … I wanted to get the job done."
Per Bontemps, Giannis added: "I could've gone to a superteam … but this is the hard way to do it, and I did it."
Antetokounmpo lit the Phoenix Suns up for 50 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday's 105-98 win in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, sealing Milwaukee's championship and his own NBA Finals MVP award.
After the Bucks' playoff failures in the previous two seasons, there was a school of thought that Giannis would skip town, form a superteam elsewhere and attempt to win championships that way.
It has become commonplace in the NBA for star players to link up in the name of winning titles, starting with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh coming together to win two championships with the Miami Heat.
The Golden State Warriors did it when Kevin Durant joined a team that already had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green—and had already won a title. That decision yielded two more championships.
The latest example resides in Brooklyn, as the Nets signed both Durant and Kyrie Irving before the 2019-20 season and traded for James Harden during the 2020-21 campaign.
Giannis could have gone that route and perhaps had an easier time winning a championship, but he decided to stay with the franchise that believed in him from the start after selecting him with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
The 26-year-old superstar showed gradual progression throughout his career, making his first All-Star appearance in 2016-17 and then winning the NBA MVP award in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Milwaukee posted the best record in the NBA in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 only to fall short of the NBA Finals, losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and the second round in 2020.
Even so, Giannis and the Bucks stayed the course, and the front office added to the core of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton by acquiring guard Jrue Holiday in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, signing both Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis, and trading for P.J. Tucker during the season.
There was some doubt whether those moves would be able to put the Bucks over the top, especially with teams around them such as the Nets making even bigger headlines after trading for Harden.
The Bucks got past KD, Kyrie and Harden in the second round of the playoffs, though, and overcame Giannis missing two games due to injury in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks to make it all the way to the NBA Finals.
Milwaukee lost the first two games of the NBA Finals, but Giannis took over, averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in six Finals games.
Winning a championship in any way is meaningful, but the fact that Giannis did it with the team that drafted him and brought the Bucks their first title in 50 years made it even more special.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reads with the championship trophy after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 50 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their second-ever NBA championship following a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.
It was a remarkable performance for the 26-year-old, whose sterling resume had already included back-to-back regular-season MVP awards, five All-NBA team nods and four All-NBA Defensive Team recognitions, among other accolades.
Giannis' resume:
🔘 NBA champion 🔘 Finals MVP 🔘 NBA MVP (2x) 🔘 All-NBA First Team (3x) 🔘 Defensive Player of the Year 🔘 All-Defense First Team (3x) 🔘 All-Star Game MVP 🔘 NBA All-Star (5x) 🔘 16-17 Most Improved Player 🔘 13-14 All-Rookie Second Team
Prior to the game, the Bucks expanded their "Deer District," an outdoor fan section for denizens to gather outside the arena, to a 65,000-person capacity.
— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) July 21, 2021
That throng was thrilled to see the Bucks finally win the title:
The moment in the Deer District when the Milwaukee #Bucks won the #NBAFinals for the first time in 50 years. 65,000 are here to witness history outside of the Fiserv Forum.
As great as the Bucks were as a team, though, Giannis' greatness stands out as the most prominent theme. Many people acknowledged Antetokounmpo's legendary status in tweets following the game:
· The block · The dunk · First 50-point closeout game in 63 years · Back-to-back 40-point games for the first time in his career · Finals MVP
Antetokounmpo also reacted to his championship himself after his journey from a child in Greece to finding his way to the pros and then the league's mountaintop.
“I hope this can give everyone around the world hope.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo: “I hope I can give people around the world … hope it can be done. My mom was selling stuff in the street, and now I’m sitting here at the top of the top. … if I never sit at this table again, I’ll be fine with it.”
Antetokounmpo ultimately led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years. Milwaukee last won in 1971, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to a four-game NBA Finals sweep over the Baltimore Bullets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wins 2021 NBA Finals MVP After Dominant Performance
Jul 21, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, bottom right, during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks propelled the Milwaukee Bucks to their second-ever NBA championship after they defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.
In a shock to no one, Antetokounmpo's NBA Finals MVP vote was unanimous:
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the unanimous winner of the 2021 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Antetokounmpo received all 11 votes from a media panel at the NBA Finals.
He averaged 35.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per game en route to leading the Bucks to four straight wins after they initially fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
On Tuesday, Antetokounmpo shot 16-of-25 from the field, scoring 20 points in the third quarter and 32 overall in the second half.
Most impressively, however, Antetokounmpo made 17 of 19 free throws. The 26-year-old had notably struggled from the free-throw line in the playoffs, making just 55.6 percent of his shots.
That wasn't a problem whatsoever Tuesday, as his clutch evening gave Milwaukee enough breathing room to earn their first championship since 1971.
Antetokounmpo already had a stacked resume that includes a pair of regular-season MVP awards and five All-NBA team honors.
NBA champion NBA Finals MVP 2x NBA MVP 5x NBA All-Star NBA All-Star Game MVP NBA Defensive Player of the Year NBA Most Improved Player 3x All-NBA First Team 3x All-Defensive First Team
According to @EliasSports Giannis is the first player to record multiple 30-point halves in a single NBA Finals over the last 40 years pic.twitter.com/HESx4MdoKR
Giannis Antetokounmpo is just 7th player ever to score 50 points in a NBA Finals game. He did it on fewer shots (25) than anyone else -- LeBron took 32 shots. Tied for the most FT attempts (19) with Elgin Baylor & Rick Barry. Only Giannis and Bob Petit did it in a closeout game.
Numerous current and former NBA greats praised Antetokounmpo for his effort during and after the game, including Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Stephen Curry:
Giannis Antetokounmpo!! 50 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks…sheesh🥵🔥🔥🔥 Congratulations to the MVP!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2021
Salute & Congrats @Giannis_An34!! You earned that shit!! 🏆💍 💐. 🙏🏾✊🏾❤️👑
In the end, Antetokounmpo delivered a legendary performance for the ages.
Giannis Dominant as Bucks Beat Chris Paul, Suns to Win 1st NBA Title Since 1971
Jul 21, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champions for the first time in 50 years.
Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Tuesday's Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum to clinch its first title since the 1970-71 campaign. Giannis Antetokounmpo was unstoppable during a legendary performance and led the way for the victors, who won four consecutive games after dropping the first two on the road.
The story was Antetokounmpo, who cemented his name alongside some of the all-time greats with a showing that will never be forgotten in Milwaukee.
Giannis Brings Home Championship With All-Time Performance
The Larry O'Brien Trophy was in the building Tuesday and, with it, the chance at basketball immortality for Antetokounmpo.
Giannis had the opportunity to join none other than Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to build a resume that includes a Finals MVP, NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star Game MVP, and he wasted no time spinning his way into the lane, controlling the glass and swatting shots as Milwaukee built a double-digit lead in the first quarter.
There would be no blowout from the start, though, as Milwaukee's offense stopped getting to the rim and suddenly became stagnant on the way to 13 second-quarter points.
While Jrue Holiday excelled on defense, he was a brutal 1-of-11 from the field in the first half. Khris Middleton also picked up a third foul, and it became a game of getting bailed out by Antetokounmpo or bust for extended stretches.
Brook Lopez provided some help with a monster slam and multiple shots in the lane, but Giannis put on an absolute clinic in the third quarter. He shifted into takeover mode and poured in 20 points in the third alone with an array of drives, pull-up jumpers and uncharacteristically solid free-throw shooting.
His individual brilliance put the Bucks on the doorstep of a championship with the game tied entering the fourth quarter, and Bobby Portis kept a raucous crowd engaged while turning into the second option for much of the second half.
It was all about Antetokounmpo, though, as he racked up the blocks on defense and overpowered everyone the Suns threw at him on the other side with Shaq-like dominance. He was also cold-blooded on the free-throw line as he overcame his previous struggles that were such a major storyline throughout the playoffs.
It was an iconic effort from a player who is well on his way to an all-time career.
Suns Stars Can't Keep Pace With Giannis
For as dire as the situation seemed for the Suns entering play after three straight losses, they were just one win away from forcing a Game 7 at home and had a red-hot Devin Booker coming off two straight 40-point performances.
From dire to optimistic was the story of the first half for the visitors, as they scored a mere 16 points in the first quarter and had no answer for Holiday's perimeter defense and Milwaukee's combination of physicality and length in the frontcourt.
However, things dramatically changed in the second quarter as Phoenix turned a 13-point deficit into a five-point lead at intermission. Much of the turnaround could be attributed to the Suns' renewed efforts on the defensive side, but Paul also methodically worked his way to midrange spots and took advantage of screens to get more favorable matchups.
Throw in Cameron Payne providing an immediate spark off the bench, and Phoenix was in control even with an early quiet showing from Booker and initial struggles from Deandre Ayton.
That control didn't last through Antetokounmpo's onslaught in the third quarter, although the game was still tied entering the final quarter in large part because Booker woke up. He started finding his scoring touch on the offensive end even with hounding defense from Holiday and P.J. Tucker and gave his team a chance to win in the fourth.
The Suns got timely contributions from Jae Crowder and Frank Kaminsky, but the game was going to come down to whether their stars could match Giannis in crunch time.
They simply couldn't, as Ayton and Booker shot a combined 12-of-34 (35.3 percent) from the field with the latter turning it over six times. The team as a whole managed just 21 points in the fourth quarter and simply couldn't keep pace with the two-time MVP on the other side.
NBA Finals 2021: Odds, Prop Bets, Score Prediction for Suns vs. Bucks Game 6
Jul 20, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Milwaukee Bucks can win their first NBA Finals since 1971 in Tuesday's Game 6.
Milwaukee put itself in a position to clinch on its home hardwood thanks to a Game 5 road victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Throughout the series, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have been the top producers for the Eastern Conference champion.
That should not change with a championship on the line, which puts all of their player props in play at Fiserv Forum.
For Phoenix to force Game 7, Devin Booker and Chris Paul need to be at their best, which makes both of those players intriguing to bet from a player prop vantage point as well.
Even if the series ends Tuesday, we should receive one final high output from the top players in the series. Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Holiday, Booker and Paul all averaged over 17 points per game in Games 1-5.
Money Line: Milwaukee (-196; bet $196 to win $100); Phoenix (+164; bet $100 to win $164)
Prop Bet Predictions
Jrue Holiday Over 19.5 Points
Holiday is coming off his series high in points. He scored 27 points in the Game 5 victory.
The Milwaukee guard struggled at certain junctures of the series, as he failed to reach the 20-point threshold in three of the first four games.
Holiday appeared to turn a corner with his shooting form in Game 5. He went 3-of-6 from three-point range and 12-of-20 from the field.
When the Bucks closed out the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Holiday was responsible for 27 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.
Although Milwaukee did not have Antetokounmpo in the lineup for that series finale, it gave us a glimpse into how Holiday can step up with a series victory on the line.
Antetokounmpo's presence has not hindered Holiday's shot-taking. He is 35-of-89 in the series with nine fewer field-goal attempts than the Bucks superstar.
If the Bucks want to finish off the series at home, they need each member of their star trio to step up in the points column.
Holiday should be around the 20-point range after he broke out of his scoring slump in Game 5. It may also be worth taking his three-point prop of over 2.5 at +120 if you believe he will have another strong scoring night.
Chris Paul Over 8.5 Assists
Chris Paul only has 31 points in the last two games.
If the Phoenix guard is not at 100 percent, he will have to find different ways to affect the game and keep the Suns close for four quarters.
In Game 5, Paul produced his highest assist total of the series and his first double-digit handout game since Game 3 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Paul has had nine or more assists in three of the five NBA Finals games. He had eight in Game 2 and seven in Game 4.
Paul should be in the middle of everything Phoenix does offensively, and if he can't be an effective scorer, he will try to set up Booker, Deandre Ayton and others with better looks.
The point guard's point prop is worth a gander because of the strong performances he turned in at the back end of previous series, but some may be skeptical that he can reach the 20-point mark after not hitting it in Games 3 and 4.
Final Score Prediction
Milwaukee 125, Phoenix 120
The victorious team in four of the five NBA Finals games scored at least 118 points.
If Holiday is playing well again alongside Antetokounmpo and Middleton, the Bucks could match, or exceed, the 123 points they scored in Game 5.
Both teams are shooting over 47.0 percent from the field and above 37.5 percent from three-point range in the series.
Unless all of the shooting trends are thrown out the window Tuesday, we will see another game hit the over.
Milwaukee's trio displayed strong shooting form Saturday, and if Holiday provides the necessary support to the two other stars, the Bucks should avoid a return trip to Arizona.
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Who Has the Most at Stake in NBA Finals Game 6?
Jul 20, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 11: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during Game Three of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 11, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).
The new-blood NBA Finals featuring the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks and no previous champions has provided plenty of highlights from both sides.
Those from the Bucks are probably fresher in mind, as they've won three straight to take a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6 in Milwaukee. Now, much of the pressure is on the Suns, especially 16-year veteran Chris Paul.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, he's closing in on some unfortunate history:
Chris Paul is on the verge of becoming the first player to lose four best-of-7 series in which his team led 2-0. The only other player with three best-of-7 series losses in which his team led 2-0 is former teammate Blake Griffin. pic.twitter.com/XyieZkCSvQ
FiveThirtyEight's projection system gives the Bucks a 60 percent chance to win Game 6 (and a 75 percent chance to win the series). And if those numbers prove prophetic, expect plenty of scapegoating of CP3.
He seems like the most obvious answer to the question in the headline, but there are arguments for others.
6. Devin Booker
Fair or not, a hefty mantle has been placed on the shoulders of Devin Booker over the course of this postseason. His raw production, including 27.7 points, 4.5 assists and 2.1 threes in his first playoff run, has even led to some Kobe Bryant comparisons.
When asked about it by ESPN's Richard Jefferson, Booker deflected.
"I didn't make that comparison myself," Booker said. "...I just leave it at what he's done for me as a mentor, and the advice that he's left me with. So, I try to take bits and pieces of his mentality and his approach, but I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant."
After back-to-back 40-point performances in Games 4 and 5, it's not hard to see why the comparison has surfaced. And two more massive performances would make it even tougher for Booker to avoid.
But if the Bucks win the series and Booker is less than spectacular, people shouldn't be eager to load up that mantle with anything else.
He's 24 years old and playing in his first postseason. If you could go back in time to tell even the biggest Booker critics that he'd make it to the Finals and average nearly 30 points, he or she would almost certainly be impressed.
Booker has already exceeded expectations. And while it's never easy to get back to the Finals, he'll make more playoff appearances. This Game 6 is still part of the first chapter.
5. Mike Budenholzer
Very few coaches' seats have moved from hot to cold (and vice versa) as many times as Mike Budenholzer's over the past couple years.
He brought instant credibility to the Bucks in 2018-19, adding 16 wins and securing his second Coach of the Year award. But much of the blame for early flameouts in the 2019 and 2020 postseasons understandably fell at his feet.
An unwillingness to deviate from defensive schemes or up the minutes for stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were his biggest offenses, but both seem behind him now.
After averaging 33.0 minutes in his past two playoff runs, Giannis is at 37.9 in 2021. And Budenholzer is using him as a screener more often than he has in the past.
Of course, two terrible performances in Games 6 and 7 could turn the heat up on that seat again, but getting this close will probably keep Bud safe for a bit.
4. Jrue Holiday
For most of this postseason, Jrue Holiday's offensive production has been a roller coaster. But his defense has been steady throughout, and some of those highs have won Milwaukee games.
The most striking example may well have just come in Game 5, when Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists, was plus-14 in a four-point win and came up with the steal and assist that led to Antetokounmpo's win-sealing dunk.
"He trusted me," Giannis later said of the play. "He knew that I'm going to finish the play, and that says a lot to me."
The synergy between those two has been visible throughout the playoffs. The development of that synergy—and how they've helped the Bucks reach the Finals—probably makes the trade that landed Holiday worth it, though some may be tempted to relitigate that if Phoenix wins the series.
A title, whether in Game 6 or 7, instantly makes the deal a win for the Bucks, regardless of what else happens over the course of Holiday's time in Milwaukee. Three first-round picks and two pick swaps are a lot, but every team in the league would give up that much if they knew it would lead to a championship.
3. Khris Middleton
Like Holiday and Booker, Middleton may have already ended a narrative by getting to this point. He's averaging 23.9 points and 5.1 assists this postseason. He's also tied for the playoff lead in total points scored in the clutch (defined as the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the game is within five points).
The push to get him into the Finals MVP conversation is probably a little contrived (Giannis is averaging 32.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in the series, for crying out loud), but Middleton has mostly vanquished the "he's not good enough to be a No. 2 on a title team" takes.
If not, a win in Game 6, especially if Middleton has another big night, will finish it off.
In the middle of his prime, Middleton also will have established himself as one of the game's best wings. Stephen Curry is the only player in NBA history who matches or exceeds all of Middleton's career marks for points per game, assists per game and three-point percentage, but Middleton is rarely mentioned with the likes of Klay Thompson or even Booker.
A championship could change that.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Like Booker, Giannis will get plenty more cracks at the postseason. His Hall of Fame resume is far from complete (even if Basketball Reference's Hall of Fame Probability model gives him a 48.5 percent chance to get in if he retired after Game 5). But a win in Game 6, a Finals MVP and his absurd production in this series will skyrocket Giannis up the all-time leaderboard for power forwards.
Over the past five years, Giannis has an 8.6 box plus/minus (BPM is "...a basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball player’s contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference). Compare that to the five-year peak BPMs of the following legends:
Adding a championship to Giannis' peak will set his apart from most (if not all) of the above. And if he has another double-digit BPM season in 2021-22 (he's had two in the past three years), his number will go up.
Of course, numbers are only part of the discussion. And the game that produces those numbers deserves a shoutout, too. In an era heavily dominated by outside shooting, Giannis is something of a throwback (while also more than earning the latter part of his Greek Freak nickname).
He physically dominates his opponents to a degree we haven't really seen since Shaquille O'Neal. And yet, his dominance is more about explosiveness and length than Shaq's brute-force fueled exploits.
He isn't likely to slow down the three-point revolution (almost no one can emulate what he does), but another championship for a team led by a big man should be a welcome change of pace.
1. Chris Paul
The suspense on this may have been killed by the intro, but there's really no other choice but CP3. He absolutely has the most at stake in Game 6.
He's been in the league for over a decade and a half. Not only is this his first Finals appearance, but this postseason also gave him just his second conference finals appearance. In all likelihood, this is CP3's last chance to be the undisputed leader of a championship team.
Given some of his and his teams' postseason meltdowns, a title for him might be even more sweet than one for other 16-year vets, too. All the aforementioned series he lost after going up 2-0 become footnotes with a couple more wins. If he has another high-turnover performance in Game 6 (he averaged 5.0 in Games 2, 3 and 4), it could be the headliner.
Whether he wins a title or not, Paul is undoubtedly a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but "Ringz Culture" will have its say when people are analyzing his career 20 years from now.
