Who to succeed the Lakers?
A question that will find its answer in the next two weeks, at the end of the NBA Finals between Phoenix and Milwaukee.
First game next night in Arizona (3 a.m.).
Two franchises with a very different course in recent years, but which share one thing in common: none of the players who make up their workforce has been champion so far.
Moreover, the Suns have never been sacred in their history, they who have only played two finals, in 1976 and 1993. The Bucks, them, had not climbed to this stage of the competition since ... 1974, three years after their first final and their only title, in 1971. For the third year in a row, the epilogue of the NBA season will also give rise to a new poster.
"CP3" as a big brother, but not only
Phoenix is the surprise guest of these Finals, at the end of a season whose course has largely been turned upside down by injuries, the Covid-19 and therefore the unexpected set up as a standard. Not that Monty Williams' men, second in the regular season (51v-21d), stole their place. But the two clubs in LA, Lakers and Clippers, Utah or Denver were a priori better placed to come out of the West. And this even if Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton and company had impressed last summer, in the bubble, before grappling with veteran Chris Paul during the offseason. Veteran, but still efficient. His impact on his young teammates is undeniable. But at 36 years old, "CP3" did not put down his luggage in the desert only to play big brother. He's still on top. Wesaw well in the last game against the Clips, 41 points, 0 loss of ball.
And here he is in the final for the first time in his career, under the orders of a coach he had known in New Orleans. Certainly, the president of the players' association is injured in his right hand, a ligament affected. But count on him to give his all in the final. He knows well, better than anyone, that the train will not pass again.
In any case, nobody reaches 100% of their physical means at this stage of the season.
Especially not the opponents of the Suns… Phoenix has indeed benefited from the glitches of LeBron James, Anthony Davis (Lakers), Jamal Murray (Denver) and Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) in the play-offs.
And now it's Giannis Antetokounmpo who advances against former club Charles Barkley with a loose knee.
The "Greek Freak" has suffered from hyperextension since Game 4 of the Eastern Finals against Atlanta.
We haven't seen him on the stage since.
And his club is causing suspense about his return to competition.
At the moment, it's impossible to know if the Greek superstar will play next night, or even in the series.
Mission impossible without the "Greek Freak"?
Obviously, Mike Budenholzer has a full team. If the Suns return to the front of the stage after long years of scarcity, and no play-offs since 2010, the Bucks have been cut for the highest honors for several years, with Khris Middleton as lieutenant, Jrue Holiday as third thief , and a quality “supporting cast”. Although, it is perhaps this year that they were least expected. We also find a French in the roster of this team, Axel Toupane. But the ex-Strasbourg resident is often only entitled to crumbs. Still, Milwaukee got away without Giannis against Atlanta. This time, the return of the "Greek Freak" appears vital for the former franchise of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And also for the NBA,who could see his audiences drop drastically if Phoenix were to unfold against the Bucks deprived of their best player. Already we do not have to do with the two largest markets in the country ... One thing is certain: this new and unexpected poster breathes a breath of fresh air on the NBA. Make way for the game.
